Biography by Stephen Thomas
Erlewine
Alisha's Attic was a bizarre attempt by
producer Dave Stewart to cash-in on the fleeting success of
British trash-pop pheonomenons Shampoo
Stewart
discovered the sister act of Shellie and Karen when the Barking-based duo sent him a demo tape they recorded at home.
The duo was clearly influenced by Kate
Bush and Prince and Stewart immediately secured the band a contract
with Mercury Records, and produced their debut album. The first single, "I
Am I Feel," was released to positive reviews in the summer of 1996, and it
showcased how Alisha's Attic -- who were named after an imaginary friend the
sister's had created, one that represented both their devilish and angelic
sides -- had been revamped as quirky, pseudo-intelligent version of the bratty,
helium-voiced dance-pop of Shampoo
. That reworking was especially evident
on the full-length, Alisha Rules the World
, which was released in November of 1996
to decidedly mixed reviews. By the time the record was released, the market for
female pop acts had become overrun by the
Spice Girls , and Alisha Rules the World
disappeared from the charts.
