ALBUM REVIEWS

Alabama 3
La Peste
One Little Indian 9th October 2002
@www.vanguard-online.co.uk

 Alabama 3 retain their roots with the deep south, religious parody, Americanised vocals and slow trance beats. Despite the chilled out vibe that Alabama 3 convey they're a very dark band entwined in politics, power and injustice. This means that 'La Peste' is quite a bleak album, meandering around in the murky minds of its creators. The opening track 'Too Sick to Pray' composed of steely resolution. There's no tune that really stands out as 'Not Going to Goa' did all those years ago. Arguably one exception to this is 'Wade into the Water' which is pretty upbeat and sweet relief quite frankly, it has a kind of 'Primal Screamy/Stone Roses' salvation tone to it. Played very loudly it must be the best kind of kick-start you could get to the morning. In addition there's a decidedly more disturbing and mundane covers of 'Hotel California', the evangelical rendition of 'Cocaine (Killed My Community) and the bluesy cum country piano ode that is 'The Thrills Have Gone', which ends with a few poignant words from Birmingham 6 survivor Paddy Hill. I really don't understand Alabama 3, where they're coming from really, whether their parodies actually carry a serious message, and after I've written this article I doubt I'll shall care much.

Mike Williams