Classic Rock Reviews Alfa 9 Then We Begin

Published on 1st June 2006 (UK)

Media title : Classic Rock

Author : Malcolm Dome

If the Stones Roses had lived in Haight-Asbury…
Remember when, for a flicker, the Stones Roses blurred the line between indie, psychedelia and heritage rock with their 1994 album The Second Coming? Well, Alfa9 sound a bit like that.
Then We Begin is a little naive and obvious in places, but the scope of “its psychedelic vision sweeps from late-60s San Francisco to mid-90s Manchester”. Reminiscent of early Elbow and Cooper Temple Clause before both succumbed to the indie shilling. Then We Begin is authentic, rallying and, on tracks like For Your Bones and Flasher, almost brilliant.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme band straddle psychedelia and indie, but so far have, thankfully, avoided stumbling into the latter’s charms.