Voted by BBC 6 Music as the best album of 2012, Alt-J’s
debut release has garnered high praise and numerous accolades, the most notable
of which was the 2012 Mercury Prize Award. Having formed in 2007, the band has
had time to craft a record to remember, and for the most part have ticked all
the boxes here.
An Awesome Wave – a title that suggests high confidence
within the band – takes a while to warm up. The interludes are unnecessary
filler, and having an interlude combined with the intro smacks of premature
pretentiousness. However, by the time the hit single Something Good comes into play
Alt-J’s self-assuredness appears well founded.
There is a wistful air to much of the album, and with the
masterful production and well crafted melody these guys seem well travelled and
experienced. Dissolve Me showcases the band’s use of strong harmony, led by
layers of vocals, which emanate through the record. Matilda seems simple and
folksy but is given edge by the harsh vocals of lead singer Joe Newman. It is
this simplicity that forms the platform for the technical mastery of An Awesome
Wave, such as in Ms as a lone glockenspiel rings through the silence followed
by a chorus of plucked guitars.
The production is crystal clear, perfect for the fine sounds
prevalent through the album. Fitzpleasure is an irresistible blend of hard buzz
rock and delicate vocals, bittersweet mix that lulls and thrills in equal
measure. Bloodflood is a distant siren on a bleak horizon, while Taro and
Hand-Made are beautifully understated and form a thoughtful, and in the
former’s case slightly oriental conclusion. Overall this is a very fine and
admirably ambitious beginning, traits that have not been missed in the media.
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