by Dale Nicholls
The so-called &Beautiful Noise& scene which sprouted up in Arizona in the early '90s, produced a small core of bands who played ethereal, guitar-heavy space-rock. &Beautiful Noise& founders, Phoenix-based Alison's Halo, used their love of British groups like My Bloody Valentine, Ride, The Verve, and Slowdive, as inspiration to create their own brand of noisy space-pop.
Alison's Halo was formed in Tempe, Arizona in late 1992 by Catherine Cooper (vocals, guitar), Adam Cooper (guitar), David Rogers (bass), and Roger Brogan (drums). Shortly after formation, the band began playing national shows with The Verve, Boo Radleys, Medicine, and other like-minded outfits. In 1995, the Dozen single was released on Independent Project Records. Withe the positive buzz surrounding the single, the band left Arizona to tour the west coast. Festivals and industry showcases followed as Alison's Halo further honed their skills. 1998 saw the release of Eyedazzler 1992-1996 on Michigan's Burnt Hair record label. The album acts as a time line of the band's recorded output, and evolution of their song writing style.