Since the release of their debut An Awesome Wave a decade ago, alt-J have continued to deliver experimental indie pop that feels far from predictable. The British trio’s fourth studio album The Dream is no different. Covering topics like the COVID-19 pandemic and cryptocurrency, the band’s clever lyricism is heightened by interesting sound samples like the opening of a can and slurping of a beverage. Blending electronic textures and fuzzy effects with frontman Joe Newman’s acoustic guitar and cooing vocals, the threesome has mastered a truly unique sound unlike any other in modern pop music.
Watch alt-J perform “U&Me” and “Hard Drive Gold” from The Dream as well as the 10-year-old “Tessellate” live at WNXP’s Sonic Cathedral.
