Polarlichter

"A tale of control and power, set to a perfect pop-song; as introductions go, Goddess is a hugely impressive one" For the Rabbits on 'Goddess' "Tender and insightful and awash with old school synths and a beautiful voice" Steve Lamacq Alice Hubble is the new solo project of Alice Hubley (Mass Datura, Cosines, Arthur and Martha), and the product of one lady locked at home with her collection of synthesisers. The album 'Polarlichter' was born out of a desire to work on a project without constraints, to move away from the traditional song writing process and to experiment with the form. Inspired by the 70’s recordings by Tangerine Dream, Ashra and Mike Oldfield (particularly the records he made with his sister Sally), Alice wanted to take a more delicate approach; a distinctly feminine take on often pompous 70’s progressive synth sound. Other inspirations include Delia Derbyshire, Daphne Oram, Lee Hazlewood’s Swedish recordings and 80’s American synth pop band The Book of Love. Constructing and sketching many of its riffs on her iPad during monotonous train journeys throughout the country. Alice built up her fragmentary ideas using vintage synthesisers and a mellotron creating something majestic, and sweeping. The album offers a soundscape of pastoral solace, far removed the urban sprawl in which it was conceived. As a form of musical escapism, many of the recordings are inspired by far off places; Ruby Falls in Chatanooga, USA, Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies and the Atlantis Palm hotel in Dubai. Other inspiration was drawn by interpersonal interactions and Arthur C Clarke’s Childhood’s End. ‘Polarlichter’ was recorded using her vast array of analogue synthesisers at Alice’s home in north London. The recordings were completed and mixed at Big Jelly Studios in Ramsgate (whose clients include Metronomy, Stealing Sheep, Girl Ray) and co-produced by Mikey Collins (Allo Darlin), who contributed drums and guitar to the recordings. Having recently supported Damo Suzuki she will be playing a number of shows in support of its release.