Alt-J

An Awesome Wave

I'm wondering how many more listens it will take before I stop thinking this album is just weird. Not bad by any measure, but very odd. And not just in sound, but in structure. Starts with an intro which leads into the first of three interludes! This leads to a severe lack of tracks that stand out compared to total number. That being said, they're definitely there. "Breezeblocks" goes without saying, but then chuck on "Something Good" & "Fitzpleasure" strategically along the way and the album doesn't wear on me too much. I'm having trouble placing the appeal of the band because they don't really sound like anything I've come across prior. That's a good thing though, but being original isn't enough to justify it if there's nothing of worth to be had. I'd be interested to hear another album from them, but I hope by then, they've refined exactly what it is that they're going for, because I still find myself confused.

Edit: I think I've better assimilated this now. What I find with ∆ albums is that it works better if you don't look at the actual tracklist, and just take it in for what it is. With that being said, they could possibly do a better job of justifying all the interludes they pigeonhole in, but they have an interesting and welcoming album to show for it. I'm just impressed that something this not straightforward is as popular as it is. 3.8

It is indeed a bizarre album but I do find it weirdly enjoyable. Sometimes for me being completely different is enough and even if it's far from perfect and sometimes doesn't work, I can still enjoy it, even if I'm just loving the absurdity. Breezeblocks is so utterly cool though.

My opinion is that a major reason why they've gathered so much popularity with this album is because of its quirkiness. The unique vocals, the almost techno-sounding percussion at times and the weirdly melodic guitar riffs help form this bizarre sound of theirs. It sort of falls away in the last few tracks, but not enough to severely impact on the record as a whole. 'Breezeblocks' and 'Tessellate' are my favourites, where lately I've found the latter to be my absolute favourite.

klasse debut! tolle, erfischende, einzigartige und äusserst kreative neue mucke!

Mit „An Awesome Wave“ legten die vier Engländer bereits vor ein paar Monaten ihr Debütalbum vor, welches musikalisch einzuordnen allen Kritikern seither schwer fällt. Denn ihre eingängige Musik ist irgendwo zwischen Indie, Pop, Rock, Folk oder Hip-Hop angesiedelt. Die Band selbst bezeichnet es als „Folk-Step“.

Alt-J brillieren mit ihrem frischen, abwechslungsreichen und melodischen Sound irgendwo zwischen Radiohead, Other Lives oder Wild Beasts, und legen ein wunderschönes, innovatives Debütalbum vor, das von Eigenständigkeit und Veränderung lebt. Es entzieht sich üblicher Kategorisierung, in welche Schublade sollte man diese Musik auch stecken? Dafür erhielten die vier Jungs auch den angesagten Mercury Prize 2012 in England.

Die Band bricht mit dem "normalen" Aufbau eines Albums und dessen Songs. Zwischen den Songs gibt es 3 kurze Interludes, ein mehrstimmiges Acapella, ein Gitarrensolo und ein Pianosolo. Der Zuhörer wird dafür mit einem 3/4 Stunde währenden Abtauchen in eine tolle Klangwelt belohnt.

Wer mit einem solchen Debüt und einem so geschickten Songwriting aufwarten kann, der wird schnell in der ersten Indie-Liga spielen. Mittlerweile taucht "An Awesome Wave" in vielen Bestenlisten für 2012 auf. Zurecht, wie ich meine. Also, lass dich nicht auf ein Genre festnageln!


Anspieltipps: Matilda, Something Good, Breezeblocks, Dissolve Me

Een geweldig album van Alt-J.