| Imagine if PJ Harvey had been let lose on the whole of that Desert Sessions album - and then turned the mother UP. Just how good would that have sounded? Exactly. So meet Alix, guaranteed to burn a short cut straight to your heart with their new album 'Ground' - an exhilarating mix of desert dust trail distortion and the unique, soulful vocals of singer Alice, that looks set to establish the band as a prime, international force to be reckoned with. Bologna native Alice Albertazzi has been making waves in the male-dominated stronghold of heavyweight, Sabbath influenced rock for nearly a decade now. Inspired by a love of psychedelic guitars and thunderous grooves, she formed Alix in 1995. After a handful of line up changes, the singer found a set of kindred spirits in the form of Gianfranco Romanelli (bass/slide guitar), Pippo de Palma (guitar) and Andrea Insulla (drums) who would follow her vision through to the present day. Three albums followed - their self-titled debut 'Alix' (1997) then 'Cuore in Bocca' (1999) and "Nessun Brivido" (2001), all of which were released to critical acclaim. 'Ground' is their finest offering yet, and their English language debut. The trademark grooves are there but the songs and sounds are far tighter, far edgier - from the bluesy stomp of 'Lonely', to the patchouli tinged spin out of 'Love' or the turbulent pulse of the title track - Alix have effortlessly seized the disparate threads of grunge rock, 60's psychedelia, folk, and blues, and twisted them into one addictive sonic boom. With their impassioned performances, the band have racked up an impressive live profile. Following their success at Rock Revolution in 2000, Alix made an appearance at the Heineken Jammin' Festival the same year, sharing the stage with such rock luminaries as MUSE, GUANO APES, PRIMAL SCREAM, and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. While last year they undertook five European tours - the first with Scandinavian outfits PAWNSHOP and DOZER, the second in support of THE HIDDEN HAND, the new band of Scott 'Wino' Weinrich, the godfather of desert rock (St Vitus, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, Probot), the third with the PLACE OF SKULLS the new project of Victor Griffin (Pentagram), the fourt with "DEBRIS INC.", the last with "VIC DU MONTE PERSONA NON GRATA"in the italian gigs. Small wonder that Alix have earned themselves the title of Italy's premier "Psychedelic Groove Rock Band". On the strength of 'Ground', it won't be long before Alice Albertazzi earns herself another title; that of the Queen of Stoner Rock! |
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