It was once said of the Rolling Stones: “They wanted to be American. How British is that?” Something of the same could be said of Alt-J - at least in regards to their new album.
It begins with ‘Bane’, and a majestic, psychedelic, post-Hendrix guitar motif conjuring up Zabriskie Point/Death Valley desolate grandeur, before choral voices take centre stage. The song then shifts focus, becoming more minimal, and free form, before shifting focus again, and ending with the choral voices quoting Mark’s Gospel.
The marvellous ‘U&ME’ continues the psychedelic vibe, with its languid guitar figure and blissed out vocals, while still managing to have a move-inducing groove and momentum to this song. Upping the speed of things is the full throttle rhythm of ‘Hard Drive Gold’, a witty look at cryptocurrencies and the insidiousness of capitalism.
References to American consumer culture pop up throughout the album; two tracks are named after US cities (‘Chicago’ and ‘Philadelphia’ ); and in ‘The Actor’ the protagonist is taunted by calls of “You’ll never make it in LA”.
Musically America is referenced through the eccentric, yet charming, barbershop quartet opening of ‘In My Shoes’, before morphing into those other, very distinct American art forms - blues and jazz.
Yet, for all the American-isms on this ambitious, bold, often quite brilliant album, it is the very English location of the Serpentine River in Hyde Park, London, where the album’s high point resides.
Built around a simple acoustic guitar figure, and an understated, intimate, vocal, ‘Get Better’ charts the grief of losing a loved one (possibly from Covid ) through memory, denial, and acceptance. It is devastating and heartbreaking, its final verses a gut punch no matter how many times you hear it.
