Sian Alice Group: 59.59

Label: The Social Registry

Sian Alice Group’s debut album, 59.59, follows closely on the heels of their recent single for The Social Registry’s “Social Club” series. In no way is this an easy album to categorize: while songs like the atmospheric opener, “As the Morning Light,” might lead you to categorize the band alongside shoegaze revivalists, other songs, such as the percussion-driven “Countours” and “Motionless,” feel more akin to the beat-driven experiments carried out by the likes of Telepathe. Vocalist Sian Ahern has a range that moves from bold (“Way Down to Heaven”) to yearning (“Murder”), and the rest of the band is adept at the shifting modes and moods that 59.59 requires in order to work. (Toby)