alt-J – Relaxer (Infectious)

The idiosyncratic trio that is alt-J stole our hearts and our minds back in 2012 with their incredible album An Awesome Wave, which was deservingly awarded the Mercury Music prize. This was followed by their 2014’s This is All Yours. With hits like Every Other Freckle we were left thinking how on earth they could ever top that.

What kind of musical concoction will the boys think of next? It may have taken three long years but it’s finally here and let’s just say it was most definitely worth the wait!

With only eight songs equalling to 39 minutes, Relaxer is the band’s shortest album yet, however I wouldn’t let that fool you.

Although Relaxer still screams alt-J, you can tell that the trio have thought long and hard about this album adding moments of grunge yet still keeping that indie vibe that we all know and love.

Opening with their single 3WW, which shares a story about love and loss in Mexico and features Wolf Alice’s leading Lady Ellie Rowsell. After a minute of gentle idyllic instrumental build-up, the soft vocals of lead vocalist Joe Newman finally become known, paired with Rowsell’s haunting tone and the mesmerising guitar riff make for a slow but stunning start to the album.

The pace quickens with the next track In Cold Blood and we return to the same tone and upbeat quirky sound as their previous albums. With its obscure lyrics “Pool summer summer pool pool summer,” reminding us that alt-J can sing just about anything.

The second half of the album takes a lot of persistence with Deadcrush and Last Year being the slower, less ambitious tracks, however the beautiful melancholic lyrics are strangely captivating.

Some may argue that Alt J’s experimental third album is pure madness but I think it’s simply genius!

Lauren Sanderson