Released on 5 November 1984, "Alf" was the debut solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, the album launched Moyet's solo career following the disbanding of synth-pop duo Yazoo. The album reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and spawned the singles "Love Resurrection", "All Cried Out", "Invisible" and "For You Only".
Back in 1983, shortly before the release of Yazoo's second studio album, You and Me Both, the band announced that they were splitting up. Deciding to pursue a solo career, Moyet soon received various offers from different record companies and ended up signing to CBS for £1 million later that year.
However, after signing the contract, Yazoo's American record company Warner Bros then put an injunction on her. The legal issues took a year to be resolved by settlement in 1984. When Moyet was able to start working on her debut album, a meeting was held with CBS, so the label after checked the recently succesful in the United States by Spandau Ballet and Bananarame suggested that Moyed should team up with producers Tony Swain & Steve Jolley.
The collaboration with the two producers proved successful and the three began writing songs for an album. Moyet later recalled: "I was simply in a space with two accomplished and encouraging blokes who were saying, 'Let's write some songs', and we didn't find it hard." The recording sessions took three months to complete. CBS suggested the album be titled Alf, which had become Moyet's well-known nickname since before Yazoo.
The album opened with "Love Resurrection", peaked at No. 10 in the UK, this is quite a gentle track, and at times in the chorus, the song is really quite catching and was a great choice for a debut single and an album opener, "Honey For The Bees" is quite a light and upbeat song, laden with wonderful little synths tinkling away in the background which really feels like it’s helping to usher the pace, "For You Only", feels somewhat downbeat and a little sad, as Alison sings about how she fears of being alone, next is the brilliant third single "Invisible" with big 80s beats and keys, Alison's vocals are huge and strong but believe it or not, this song despite being reasonably catchy, remained at No. 21. "Steal Me Blind" introduces a gospel choir as backing vocals, and the end result makes something that sounds fairly blues-styled.
Second parte arrived with "All Cried Out", peaked at No. 8, this is a phenomenal track, that was deserved of its hit status. The song is wonderfully 80’s sounding – both musically and vocally, next is "Money Mile" a softer one and a really a nice song, that despite feeling minimal worked perfectly for the record,"Twisting The Knife" has an almost disco-styled intro that probably would be fit for a single, and then "Where Hides Sleep" with some dreamy vocals singing the song title before being joined by a gentle synth loop. Alison shows off her softer vocals here, and this works really well as the keys tinkle in the background.
Not a bad record, maybe a little bit early 1980s, but it doesn't matter, Alison voice and songwriting works perfect with lovely track and lovely moments. The album was a commercial success in the UK and Worldwide in New Zealand peaked at No. 1 and even in the United States was the most succesful record peaking at No. 45 there.
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