
ALT-J
The Dream (Infectious)
The Dream is an apt name for the fourth album from Alt-J – full of vivid imagery and tales blending fantasy with reality. The band retain their distinctiveness, sounding confident and revitalised. But the album is also surprising, ambitious, and altogether current, with lyrics inspired by cryptocurrency and true crime, as in The Actor.
The Dream begins with Bane, an ode to “fizzy cola” where mythical choirs, sinuous melodies and jubilant shouts collide. Spectacular vocals in stripped-back arrangements are nothing short of dreamy on Delta and the moving, COVID-influenced Get Better. Their experimentation takes them from doo-wop singing in Walk A Mile to Philadelphia’s operatic breaks, while “Alt-J-isms” like wave sounds and the Yamaha “yeah” sample make a return.
Segments of original spoken word feel cinematic and nostalgic, especially at the end of Powders. Yet there’s a similar playfulness to Alt-J’s debut album An Awesome Wave, especially in Hard Drive Gold and U&ME. Evocative storytelling, rich textures and unpredictable songwriting make The Dream a more intriguing and rewarding listen every time.
words ROSANNA LEWIS