Listen: Alpines – “Oasis”

It’s been a while since we were blessed with some new music from South London’s Alpines. However, just two bars into new track “Oasis”, it feels like they’ve never been away.

Although they’ve been quiet of late – with the exception of a collaboration with Maya Jane Coles in July – the pair have evidently picked up a taste for putting work in during winter months with this release arriving a full year after its predecessor, “Lights”.

The duo’s sound is instantly recognisable and Catherine Pockson’s vocals are as strong as ever, the ethereal nature of the track providing the perfect bed for her voice to dance around on top of. The piano loop borders on the hypnotic but is well offset by some properly clever use of digital percussion. Lyrically, the track tells the story of a cheated lover, and although not screamingly obvious, there’s enough there to which the jilted partner can relate.

In truth, there’s no great surprises from Alpines. Despite many bands encroaching on their territory of late (the increasingly saturated world of female-led electronica) the duo still have the quality to hold their own. Whilst the relaxed nature of their music doesn’t much lend itself to a sing-along, “Oasis” is irrefutably catchy and a strong return.

Alpines play their first show in over a year at Basement, London on 27 February.