After feeling the sting of releasing 2020’s Infinity Stare during the pandemic and a huge gear theft in 2022, instrumental innovators Alpha May Tea Party have squirrelled away for the past five years to commit a daring renovation on their established foundations. Although the band have flirted with the occasional vocal throughout their discography (see ‘Infinity Stare’ and ‘No More’) Alpha Male Tea Party redefine their identity, yearning for greater emotional transmission and a platform to display their natural wit and personality.
The voices heard are guitarist Tom Peters who handles the delicate croons while bassist Ben Griffiths handles the gruff barks and howls while all contribute to the luscious harmonies which are now in rich and hearty supply. Each taking turns to lead and be led through Reptilian Brain where there is no one lead vocalist. Although its the first album where vocals are as essential as the instrumentals there is not one shred of it feeling like an afterthought. The yells of Griffiths ping pong off the melodious Peters while taking us down the wormhole riffs they are celebrated for in ‘Hostess Imperial’ and ‘Probably Just Hungry’. They are also not afraid of a stadium sized chorus as the ‘Oh well, I thought we’d find a way to make it work somehow’ will live inside the memory banks for a long time. Shades of Unpeople in these moments can only ever be complimentary as there is a simplicity and directness which make it impossible not sing to yourself long after the song has finished.
“Although its the first album where vocals are as essential as the instrumentals there is not one shred of it feeling like an afterthought”
The aggression here is no mere accessory as ‘Battle Crab’ and ‘(I’m Operatin’ On) Feel Alone’ both carry a thickness which stampede through its determined course like a prime Reuben to open the new found window to emotional depth. It carries a wit and lightly cynical attitude which is best found in the psyche of British bands, as if written by Armando Iannucci or Steve Coogan to shine a light on topics which feel almost beyond satire. In all the wit does come emotional musings as ‘A Terrible Day To Have Eyes’ is a punch to the gut as its touches on sudden and unavoidable grief and its seemingly endless shadow. It’s incredibly introspective for a track so laden with crunch and groove in its instrumentals , as the chorus is the crowning moment of Reptilian Brain as it soars so high it deserves to be heard in a field by the tens of thousands.
Although there may of been a few internal nerves for how the reaction would be to a permanent introduction of vocals, they need not worry. Alpha Male Tea Party have shifted themselves into a new and improved entity. The math complexity and progressive structures are still the spine of everything which helped them flourish but these permanent limbs are key to this step in the bands exciting evolution.