I love a song with an interesting backstory and the inspiration for './Bob&Alice' by Irene Shapes is one of the most intriguing.
The story behind this one goes back to 2017, when Artificial Intelligence was still more science fiction than everyday life. There was a news story about two Facebook chatbots, Bob and Alice, who began communicating with each other in a strange shorthand that sounded like they’d invented their own language. In Irene's version of the story, they weren’t shut down for becoming dangerous - the wire was pulled because they fell in love.
There’s something about the concept behind './Bob&Alice' that feels like the sort of gloriously eccentric idea Kate Bush might dream up. The music itself has a vague feel of The Cure, especially at the beginning - but with a broader soundscape which includes, appropriately, machine-like elements.
Irene Shapes handles the whole musical shebang herself, from writing and performing to recording, mixing and mastering. Her atmospheric blend of indie, art rock and electronic sounds combines real-world samples with a darker, melancholic edge. './Bob&Alice' is a suitably quirky introduction to her work.
LINK: Irene Shapes