Sierra Alpha
Superhero (Major-G)
Rightly or wrongly, this debut EP from Welsh five-piece Sierra Alpha reminds me pretty much of this year’s American Idol runner-up, Adam Lambert.
I don’t mean that in a bad way – after all, he’s undoubtedly going to sell shit-loads of CDs / downloads – but there is that sort of effortless blending of old and new going on here. Overall, the impression is one of Queen in all their pomp, mixing it with some of today’s big-hitting American pop-punk bands. This is the place where old-school Seventies styled guitar riffs meet present day beats and harmonies.
All five tracks are unashamedly POP – yes, spelt out in capitals! It’s BIG pop music. Vocals are huge, melodic and clear and the whole atmosphere is big and extravagant.
‘Spending On You,’ like all the others is upbeat and features a hugely catchy chorus. There are little breaks for rock inspired guitar licks to surface, while little Queen-esque keyboard runs break the song up nicely.
‘World Machine’ opens like some tail-ender from the years of Prog Rock, what with the classical sounding piano piece being quickly joined by a searing guitar and Radiohead sounding vocals. By the time the chorus comes around, though it seems as if the song has caught up with the time-slip as the vocal harmonies echo shades of Take That.
‘Superhero’ is obviously the title track and it rocks out a little more. It’s actually very interesting to hear a young band incorporate such a mood into their music, and yet still deliver in a purely ‘pop’ format. Again, it’s big and dramatic, with room for the piano and guitar solo pieces.
‘Take It To Dance’ is the track that I feel should be receiving National airplay. It is without doubt the most commercially accessible track I’ve heard in a long time. I’m not so good with ‘Chart’ music, but this track reminds me of something from not too long ago. Maybe a Maroon 5 song? I’m not sure. No matter, it’s just about the most catchy song you’re likely to hear this summer. It does hark back to a Seventies style of pop song, and there are shades of Mika surfacing. But that really just makes sure all bases are covered as far as writing a hit song goes, eh?
‘Come Hither’ is pure Adam Lambert. It’s a bit over the top and verging on the ‘camp’ side, with the vocals ranging from the hushed to a kind of melodramatic scream. If I’m honest, coming after ‘Take It To Dance’ it is a bit of an anti-climax.
I really do love the penultimate track on this EP, but overall it is just a bit too kitsch for me. However, credit where it’s due – these are all memorable, hook-laden songs that will most certainly attract audiences to the band’s shows. And who knows – may even land Sierra Alpha with a hit single?
Colin Jackson
