Come From Heaven
Alpha--Corin Dingley and Andy Jenks--are among the best of the trip-hop generation. Signed to Massive Attack's Melankolic label, their debut owes debts to Scott Walker, Burt Bacharach, and John Martyn, weaving shreds and swatches into something new. Yes, it is downbeat, the kind of music for long, lonely nights, but it is absolutely perfect for those nights. Guest vocalists help out as Dingley and Jenks manipulate the sounds and the strings, fill it all out beautifully. Crafted and inspired, one of '97's standouts.--Chris Nickson