Alyce Platt

 

Listen to sample tracks from Beautiful Death and other albums...

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“…there’s been a deluge of female singer-song writers in the past few years.Many have been bland Alanis-clones . But in Melbourne we are lucky to have some originals who are forging their own path….add Platt to that list..” (Cowboy’s in the attic cd) - Howzat!

“..sophisticated chanteuse....” - Herald Sun

“ sensual women in focus” - Herald Sun

“..Nothing is hidden..” - Herald Sun

“..captivating..” - RRR

“..her voice is warm and inviting..she is playful yet melancholic..” - Herald Sun

:”A buzzing talent” - Dimity Barber time out mag

“..Alyce woos the crowd and shows her versatile vocal ability..” - Herald Sun

“Quirky, cryptic, intriguing. And pop. That’s Bakers Daughter” - Howzat!

“..torch singer Alyce Platt returns after an extended hiatus with an intriguing, and at times exhilarating , EP under the moniker Bakers Daughter” - Justin Murray, Inpress

“clearly she has drawn experience from her long career as a jazz and torch singer….she displays a lovely sense of subtlety ..’The entertainer’ sounds like it could have jumped straight from Jill Sobule record..” - Justin Murray, Inpress

Alyce Platt's debut album, Beautiful Death.

Beautiful Death is out now through Sound Vault Records and available to buy online now!

A cold Melbourne night in 1998. A gig at the Prince of Wales Hotel in St Kilda. Something in the air. Steve Shelley and Luc Suer have a night off from Sonic Youth’s Australian tour and are at the pub to see former Birthday Party member Rowland S Howard. Also there to see Rowland is singer and songwriter Alyce Platt. Steve, Luc and Alyce are all blown away by the other act on the bill, Hungry Ghosts. Steve and Luc invite the band to come to New York to make a record, while Alyce vows that one day she will work with the band’s frontman, J.P. Shilo.

Fast forward five years and that collaboration has arrived – Alyce Platt’s debut album, Beautiful Death.

It’s a sonic adventure that creeps up on you and takes you places you least expect.

“It’s an offering,” Alyce says. “I’m not trying to change the world. It’s just a collection of my songs. It’s real. This is what happened, and you might be able to relate.”

Beautiful Death is an album that doesn’t hit you on the head. It entices and then seduces – if you allow it.

Alyce calls her work with J.P. Shilo (John), “a real collaborative discovery”. The journey started in candlelight in a cold, damp cellar without power. John had set up a four-track studio at the Buddhist centre, Tara Institute, in Melbourne.

Alyce also worked on the album with co-producer Glenn Lewis (ex-Violetine) and cello player Kathryn McKee.

Some records they were listening to, which may or may not have influenced the album: Tim Buckley’s Happy – Sad, Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, Rodriguez’s Sugar Man, and The Velvet Underground.

Alyce has been writing songs since she was 12, but Beautiful Death is the first time she has put her name on a CD. In 1999 she released the acclaimed EP, Cowboys In The Attic, under the name “Bakers Daughter”. (“Quirky, cryptic, intriguing,” said Melbourne’s Inpress. “Cowboys In The Attic sucks you in after a few listens.”).

Beautiful Death is an alluring collection of dreamscapes, an album, from the opening title-track to the closing cover of Imagination from Sesame Street(!).

At times melancholic, but never depressing, the song titles tell just part of the story: Beautiful Death, Crush Me, Sick Heart, Happiness, Still The Mind, Make Me Cry, Hell and Imagination.

“Happiness is around everywhere,” Alyce sings, “go and find it.”

“Sometimes,” Alyce explains, “I find sadness can be a soothing place to be, because it’s settled and it’s real.

“I believe the album is actually about healing. Everyone carries those things around, I think. Everyone has a bit of hell in them. But, for me, the songs end up going to hope.”

As for the album title, it may or may not refer to Alyce saying goodbye to her past.

In her previous life, when she inhabited the role of a television personality, a major label wanted Alyce to do an album, “Alyce Platt Sings Her Favorite Love Songs”. This is so not that.

“Like the artist herself, this CD is unique- a sublime blend of sound and emotion unlike anything else you’ll find in the music stores at the moment.” - Time out mag Dimity Barber

“The songs are reflective and at times melancholy, but never depressing.
There is an over all sense of yearning with out being indulgent.”

Beautiful Death is honest, revealing and challenging. And the name on the album is Alyce Platt. No hiding any more.

Alyce Platt: Beautiful Death. An album to live with.

Beautiful Death is out now through Sound Vault Records and available to buy online now!

Alyce Platt Live from the Vault

”Honest and revealing, Platt has plenty to offer musically. Produced and written by Alyce (except for tracks 1& 8), 14 enticing tracks reveal their secrets and mysteries with repeated play.”

Live from the Vault features Alyce Platt as a talented song writer and passionate, soulful singer .  “I have included a couple of tracks;(Broken and The Entertainers) from my Bakers Daughter cd,Cowboys in the attic..these tracks were produced and recorded by Peter Farnan in his cute studio in Northcote back in 2000..”

Alyce sings and plays guitar on all of the tracks and even tap dances on track 10- The Entertainer. Also playing live are ; Pete Farnan ,guitar and Rosie Westwood, double bass.

Two of the songs, ‘Someone’s daughter’ and ‘Broken’, have been featured as sound tracks to tv1’s cool summer ‘Law and Order’ promo.

The Album was recorded on a stormy night in a little studio in West Melbourne. A small gathering of people congregated in a cosy studio space which was transformed into an intimate night club /recording studio. The audience listened attentively, contributing to the atmosphere that has been captured on this recording.

Musicians: Pete Farnan, Rosie Westbrook, Claude Carranza, Stephan Hadley,Tony Floyd

Alyce Platt Live from the Vault –(Sound Vault Records)  www.soundvault.com.au

Available at all JB HI FI stores

Bakers daughter - Cowboy’s in the attic 2000

In 1999 Alyce called upon Pete Farnan to produce her first Ep,’Cowboy’s in the attic’ .He skillfully  captured the quirky nature of Alyce and her song writing sensibility. Together they created the 5 track Ep.

“Some songs, such as the entertainer, are reminiscent of the works by the late German composer Kurt Weill” Catherine Lambert –Herald Sun

“quirky, cryptic, intriguing”, said Melbourne’s Inpress

Uncomfortable then, with her high profile television name, she opted to go under the Monika of Bakers daughter…

 ‘Cowboys In The Attic’, which appeared in the indie music charts in 2000, received critical acclaim and sparked international interest, leading to gigs at the ‘Mink’ and ‘The Gig’ on Melrose in L.A. in 2001.

Band members: Pete Farnan,Mick Gerasol, Piet Collins, Cameron Mckenzie

The Ep was also featured on JJJ in 2000