ALLEY (the band) – Telling Stories (2026)
Written by real people with raw experiences and zealous earnestness, ALLEY (the band) delves into the intricacies of life as we know it. Hailing from the UK, the indie-pop foursome “blends romance, rebellion, and storytelling into songs that feel like scenes from a film you swear you’ve lived”. Today, the lads and lady – Ali Wood (vocals), Robbie Davies (guitars), Jaymie Page (bass) and Antony Insuli (drums) – take us on a journey through themes of “..love and loss, pleasure and trauma, reflecting the complexities of everyday… experiences that connect us all…” Recorded and produced by Al Moghadam, the five-track EP, Telling Stories, is, as ALLEY (the band) explains, “…about finding your own meaning in the songs. If you can escape into it, or even just see a part of their own life reflected back at them, that’s everything to us.” Join us as we wade across this sonic rollercoaster.
Listening to ALLEY (the band) is not just a listening experience; it is a full-on dance and wander through a wistful, kaleidoscopic sonic forest. Opening with ‘Watching You Leave’, the dance begins, introducing you to each player. Page’s bass keeps the pace, while Insuli’s drums kick up in the background. Davies’ guitar struts across with its hard-hitting riffs and flair, then Wood holds your hand and guides you across the floor with a sweet smile.
Interestingly, while’Watching You Leave’ is only the first of five tracks, it seemingly sets the tone for the rest of the album. In ‘The Release (Now It’s Over)’, the dance slips into an indie-folk twirl that could easily be enjoyed around a campfire with friends. The next track, ‘Song For A Diva’, doesn’t necessarily have an upbeat vibe, but certainly showcases ALLEY (the band)’s diversity with scorching guitars and Nat Moghadam’s sexy saxophone. ‘La La Land’ finds the sweet spot between a Bolero and a waltz, but with a folk-induced spin falling gracefully into the bass, drums, guitar and Wood’s shimmering voice. It’s bright and starry, but simultaneously holds vulnerability in the melody – something seen (or rather heard) in the majority of ALLEY (the band)’s music.
Telling Stories ends with ‘Daytime Drinking’. Positively, my favourite song on Telling Stories; not for the upbeat sound perfect for a blues dance, but the evocative nature of its emotional music. Moreover, a wistful whimsy is laced into the melody with delicate haunting and fragile webs, before falling into an Americana-esque quickstep. ‘Daytime Drinking’ is easily the most relatable in its rise and fall, as well as the geniality and connectedness.
ALLEY (the band) is a band for the people; conversations, sighs, giggles, and that mish-mash of dancing, Telling Stories is just that: a bunch of mates hanging about, clicking their heels, laughing, crying and celebrating life.
Find out more about ALLEY (the band) on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Spotify.
