Alt-J - Alexandra Palace - 24/9/14
Adventurous, precise, mesmerising, over-indulgent, all in equal measure...
Difficult second album syndrome is something that it's fair to say may have crossed the minds of Alt-J over the past few weeks. Following up to An Awesome Wave, an album written in a Leeds University bedroom studio, which went on to sell over a million copies, and bag them a Mercury Music Prize in the process, is no small undertaking.
Last night, in front of a capacity crowd of 10,000 crammed into the rafters of Alexandra Palace, they had the opportunity to debut material from their new album, This Is All Yours, whilst also reminding their avid fans exactly why they are one of Britain's most exciting bands.
Despite some critics reactionary disapproval of some of their new material, and reports of some uninspiring live shows, last night the band, shawn of founding member and bassist Gwil Sainsbury, acted as if his departure was just another small blip in their otherwise extraordinary ascent. As if to stand up to the skepticism, they proudly formed in a straight line at the front of the stage, as if to assert their unity. This was a band to take seriously.
Launching into the show with the debut single from their second album, Hunger of the Pine kept the crowd mumbling rather than fully engaging with the material.
Then, somewhat surprisingly, the band dropped straight into Fitzpleasure and then Something Good, and all of a sudden everyone's attention was firmly on the stage.
Left Hand Free allowed them to indulge in a bluesy keyboard solo, channeling their best inner Black-Keys in the process, whilst Matilda garnered the loudest sing-along of the evening.
For all the high's, there were the inevitable lows. Blood Flood and Bloodflood pt.II were filled with too many flat notes drawn over muddy sounds, whilst the introduction of a brass band for Warm Foothills didn't really deliver against the promise. Although, as with their previous record, their new tracks look to be slow-growers that will reward a patient ear.
Both Taro & Dissolve me had such astonishing thrust live that it also begged the question of where the negative criticism of their live performances had ever come from, with Joe Newman masterfully handling the texture of the latter, deflating it's bulbous bass lines with a delicate purr.
If this was anything to go by, Alt-J could be this year's Foals, replacing their student friendly status with universal adulation. Their show at the O2 on January 24th goes on sale soon. If this was anything to go by, that could be quite a special evening.
Stream An Awesome Wave Here
Stream This Is All Yours Here
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