Author Archives: northernalliance

Bernhard Bessing, Is This Music?, Summer 2004

Posted on July 14, 2004 by northernalliance

Hurrah. Just in time for Euro 2004, a timely reminder of where the Scottish backslide really started which will show why Scots will console themselves with cheering on France and Croatia. Our national football team has never recovered from the … Continue reading →

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Laurence Arnold, Comes With a Smile, Summer 2004

Posted on July 14, 2004 by northernalliance

I’m glad I have this record. Not just because it’s good, but because it solves the mystery of who to contact and say ‘thanks’ to. The last Northern Alliance album, ‘Hope in Little Things’, came into my possession from I … Continue reading →

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Stuart McHugh, The List, 10.6.04 [4/5]

Posted on June 14, 2004 by northernalliance

Perhaps ‘celebrating’ the halcyon era of Scottish football, when humiliation was unexpected and ignominious rather than matter-of-fact; Northern Alliance make suitably downbeat alt.folk of a kind rather suited to Anstruther’s celebrated Fence label. In the mid-90s you’d have called it … Continue reading →

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Unpeeled, June 2004

Posted on June 14, 2004 by northernalliance

A band that has never played live, has collectively cut back on fags to get more booze down their necks is a band to be cherished, particularly when you discover that Northern Alliance sing songs about identity, homesickness, love, marriage, … Continue reading →

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Clare Harris, Big Issue, 27.5.04

Posted on May 14, 2004 by northernalliance

A cynic might say that Anstruther-based Fence Records have carved themselves a nice niche market in twee. But I’m no cynic. The latest release from the ubiquitous collective’s Picket Fence series is a selection of songs from Edinburgh’s Northern Alliance. … Continue reading →

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Liability Webzine, November 2003

Posted on November 1, 2003 by northernalliance

Même si Hope in little things constitue seulement leur premier album, tous les membres de Northern Alliance sont déjà trentenaires. Et cela s’entend. Les chansons possèdent en effet toutes pour dénominateur commun un certain son vintage, rouillé serait-on tenté de … Continue reading →

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Paul Whitelaw, Metro, 21.10.03 [3/5]

Posted on October 21, 2003 by northernalliance

Edinburgh is home to many things – parliament, tramps, posh idiots, me – but smoggy country-tinged psychedelia ain’t one of ’em. Or so I thought ’til I fell into Northern Alliance, who sound like Mazzy Star doing Mojave 3 doing … Continue reading →

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Nick Miles, Baby Tiger

Posted on October 14, 2003 by northernalliance

Hollow, scratchy vocals, purring organs and that grating, inorganic harpsichord sound that comes out of an acoustic guitar with a cheap pickup; this is a home made record aspiring to lo-fi chic. And I think its got it.The lyrics are … Continue reading →

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Ian Fletcher, Comes With a Smile #13 – Autumn 2003

Posted on October 1, 2003 by northernalliance

Like the Delgados reared on a diet of Codeine, Northern Alliance are a slow, sad, sleepy trio from Scotland. Their first tiny mark on the world is ‘Hope In Little Things’, a seven-song mini-album that comes close to being something … Continue reading →

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