Alt-J
This Is All Yours
Reviewed by: Brian Roser
Alt-J has certainly earned the ‘alt’ part of their name. Their music is different, but quite compelling for all that. The first half of “Intro” is an a cappella instrumental, if there can be such a thing. “Arrival in Nara” is a more soothing track, “Garden of England” sounds like something to be played in the background during Much Ado About Nothing, which is then followed by “Choice Kingdom” which is depression with a treble clef. Ironically, the one song you can really clap your hands to is called “Left Hand Free”.
Okay so it turns out that their name is actually ∆ and alt-j is just what you hit on the Mac keyboard to get that character. It has nothing to do with alternative music. They picked ∆ because it is the symbol for change in scientific notation. This is their second album, but their first without guitarist and founding member Gwil Sainsbury who left the band early this year. Not to disparage his musical abilities, but the band has managed to weather his leaving without any drop in the quality of their music.
The music is alternative, synth, creative, indie rock and just plain good. It can sometimes get a little bizarre, not least in the lyrics to “Every Other Freckle” when he sings: “Turn you inside out and lick you like a crisp packet.” For all their innovations, their risks pay off and they have created a compelling album in This Is All Yours.
Rating: Bad-Ass
