DOT ALLISON - We Are Science

Dot Allison is one of the best-kept secrets of British pop. Born in Edinburgh, where she grew up, she moved to industrial Glasgow in 1989 to study Biochemistry, and soon found herself surrounded by a string of musicians and artists, and eventually formed One Dove with a couple of friends. After recording their first single, Fallen, the band met with Andy Weatherall, who produced and released Morning White Dove, their first album, on his label, Boys Own, in 1993. Followed disagreements with the label, the band eventually split up in the mid nineties, and Allison retreated to write her first solo album, Afterglow, released on Heavenly in 1999. Three years on and a new record deal under her belt, this time with London-based Mantra Recordings, she is back with We Are Science.
Partly recorded and produced by Dot in her home studio in London, We Are Science is a self confessed return to her roots; the album that she wanted to record for a long while. Dark and atmospheric, We Are Science has the cold mechanical beauty of early New Order records with the more human approach of modern electronic music. Allison’s compositions, emulated by Two Lone Swordsmen’s Keith Tenniswood’s granular programming, is not without recalling the blistering synth pop of early Anne Clark, the shotgun vocals being replaced by Allison’s incandescent ethereal voice. Eclectic in her taste, Allison also investigates other forms of music and orchestrations as on the string-swept Performance or the beautiful acoustic setting of Wishing Stone. We Are Science also features two tracks that Dot recorded a couple of years ago with Mercury Rev bassist Dave Fridmann, guitarist Grasshopper and drummer Jeff Ament. Strung Out and Lover, both produced by Fridmann, are resolutely closer to rock in structure, but don’t sound out of place in this collection of slightly claustrophobic songs. It is in the more characteristically electro moments of this album that Dot shines most however. Substance, You Can Be Replaced, Make It Happen or I Think I Love You are bespoke moody pieces of love and break-ups, showcasing her strong writing talent better than ever.
With this uncompromising record, Dot Allison has produced her most upfront work to date. We Are Science is complex and yet accessible, thanks to credible lyrics, impeccable production and powerful interpretation.