TRK studios is located in Arganda in the outskirts of Madrid. A cozy studio with a vibe of its own that allows for intimate performances. I know this first hand as I had the pleasure to record one of my songs there, and felt that I was sealed away from the outside world and got a chance to paint an honest picture undisturbed and not judged. This studio sure has the mantra of “Art first!”, easily channelling this energy to all of its visitors, and thus being the ideal location to record Alpha Circle’s ‘Shoe On The Other Foot’.
Let’s start out by the opening guitar riff. Baroque and reminiscent of Turn up the Sun by Oasis with hints of flamenco, instantly catching the listener’s attention. When the vocals and drums enter at 0:25 the band has announced its profound admiration for the Jam, particularly their seminal song ‘Carnation’. I’m not saying that they are outright copying the all-conquering Paul Weller, but they very cleverly manage to execute ‘Shoe On The Other Foot’ with tones of Schadenfreude with the same ability as the latter. Don’t be surprised to shed a tear and smile at the same time. Lyrics such as: “And I’m humbled / And I’ve learned…I’ve repent my greed…And now the tables have turned” evoke tales of a difficult and honest confession. But this honesty which takes the form of an art piece and is what precisely sells the song.
In conversations with the band they have told me that this is a B-side, which I will actively work to change. B-side ‘Let’s all make believe’ was my (and a crowd) favorite song out of the sessions for Oasis’ ‘Standing in the Shoulder of Giants’, a mistake the mighty Noel Gallagher has admitted to regret. This calls for another conversation –perhaps an interview- with the band at TRK studios, to persuade them to turn ‘Shoe On The Other Foot’ into their next release.
Catch more of Alpha Circle here: