Here, in order, are the Northern Alliance releases, and a summary of some of the things people said about them. If you’re interested, you can download the entire back catalogue at the Northern Alliance BandCamp page. No charge.
Hope in Little Things
Released in 2003
“a heart as heavy as the sun. Most promising.” – Metro
“wheezing keyboard and stinging guitar” – Scotland on Sunday
“a wistful, laidback, countrified record” – Sunday Herald
“heartbroken and drunkenly swaying” – Kerrang [4/5]
“possessing a mesmerising fascination” – Logo Magazine
“a sleepy foray into muted atmospherics” – Q [3/5]
“very likeable” – Rock Sound
“this is lovely” – The Big Issue
“long live lo-fi – when it’s done like this” – Baby Tiger
“a chunk of essential noise” – Radio 2XS
“vastly superior” – Unpeeled
“many of the right buttons are pushed here” – The List
“an engaging ride” – Is This Music?
Read all the press for Hope in Little Things
Disaster For Scotland
Released in 2004
“I’m glad I have this record” – Comes with a Smile
“moody n magnificent” – Unpeeled
“a sleepwalk through a daydream… fantastic” – Is This Music?
“sadder than lassie… what a result” – Scotland on Sunday
“true Celtic folk sounds and moods” – Rocksound [8/10]
“beautifully maudlin” – The List [4/5]
“full of longing and grit” – Logo Magazione
“quiet intensity” – The Big Issue
Read all the press for Disaster for Scotland
For the Grains of Sand
Released in 2006
“breathtaking” – Maverick Magazine [4/5]
“you’ll love this” – Is This Music [4/5]
“a triumph of homespun recording” – The Big Issue [4/5]
“works of beautifully fragile optimism…a great album” – The List [4/5]
“a charm-filled album” – Sunday Mail
“incredible mix of Spiritualised and The Beta Band” – Daily Record
Read all the press for For the Grains of Sand
The Hand of God
Released in 2007
“amazingly haunting… an epic slowburner” – Steve Lamacq, Radio 2
“has a beautiful, dreamlike quality” – Maverick Magazine [4/5]
“a fine record” – The List [4/5]
“a mesmerising sonic masterpiece” – The Daily Record
“a near perfect dreamlike album. Blissful listening” – The Skinny [4/5]
“a gorgeously melancholic mini-album” – Subba-Cultcha [9/10]
Read all the press for The Hand of God
The MacPherson Tapes (as The Ossians)
Released in 2008
“sometimes sweet, sometimes blisteringly noisy and sometimes too good never to be performed” – The Highland News
“..one of their best albums..” – Daily Record
“[there are moments] when you would wish The Ossians into existence” – The Scotsman
Read all the press for The MacPherson Tapes