2010, Funny/Not Funny Records
VINYL FORMAT. Tracks: "Repeat" by The Alphabet b/w "Death Bellows 45" by The Invisible Hand. Limited to 300 copies on black vinyl; comes with a digital download!
"Somewhere on either side of Mount Afton, Virginia, the best bands you haven't heard yet are warming up their tube amps and plugging in their weathered Stratocasters in cramped, dingy basements. Harrisonburg, VA based Funny/Not Funny Records crystallizes this moment by pairing together the Shenandoah Valley sounds of Charlottesville's The Invisible Hand and Harrisonburg's The Alphabet. Punchy, hook-loaded guitar lines that sway and swell introduce The Alphabet on "Repeat." Matt Leech's lolcat-like voice keeps the tempo on music that draws on the indie sensibilities laid down in the 90s by Braid and Hot Rod Circuit. The Alphabet brings a rawer sound to the genre hinting at the band's ability to cause some cerebral damage. As fierce as a cougar and as raucous as two old skool Sparks, "Repeat," recorded by Ben Schlabach (Mild Winter), is sure to blow some speakers and twist some heads. The Invisible Hand musically evokes The Zombies pop songwriting abilities with about 5mg of Adderol. Adam Smith, on this release, shows a more intimate Hand and briefly sheds the full band for a home-recording offering that isn't trying to fit into an exhausting "skate or die" revival. "Death Bellows 45" triumphantly ends up sounding like a catchy, fucked-up "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" B-side tucked away in an attic; discovered and covered by a pensive Daniel Johnston performing solely to old Muscle Men figurines." - Jeff Byers
"Somewhere on either side of Mount Afton, Virginia, the best bands you haven't heard yet are warming up their tube amps and plugging in their weathered Stratocasters in cramped, dingy basements. Harrisonburg, VA based Funny/Not Funny Records crystallizes this moment by pairing together the Shenandoah Valley sounds of Charlottesville's The Invisible Hand and Harrisonburg's The Alphabet. Punchy, hook-loaded guitar lines that sway and swell introduce The Alphabet on "Repeat." Matt Leech's lolcat-like voice keeps the tempo on music that draws on the indie sensibilities laid down in the 90s by Braid and Hot Rod Circuit. The Alphabet brings a rawer sound to the genre hinting at the band's ability to cause some cerebral damage. As fierce as a cougar and as raucous as two old skool Sparks, "Repeat," recorded by Ben Schlabach (Mild Winter), is sure to blow some speakers and twist some heads. The Invisible Hand musically evokes The Zombies pop songwriting abilities with about 5mg of Adderol. Adam Smith, on this release, shows a more intimate Hand and briefly sheds the full band for a home-recording offering that isn't trying to fit into an exhausting "skate or die" revival. "Death Bellows 45" triumphantly ends up sounding like a catchy, fucked-up "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" B-side tucked away in an attic; discovered and covered by a pensive Daniel Johnston performing solely to old Muscle Men figurines." - Jeff Byers
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