By Ian Lockwood
Online Managing Editor
Indie rock band, Alt-J, released their newest relaxing and tranquil album, “Relaxer,” on June 2.
Alt-J pleases listeners with the releases of the album, “Relaxer,” due to the slight change in tone and the unique collection of serene instrumentals, and remarkable use of various synthesizers and audio effects.
LINK: Check out Alt-J’s personal interpretations of each song on the album.
Alt-J is an indie rock band from the United Kingdom, the group gained stardom in 2012 due to their debut album, “Breezeblocks.” The group has received Grammy and Brit Awards nominations along with being awarded The Mercury Prize, for their previous works.
The band’s newest work, “Relaxer” was released on June 2, through Infectious Records. The album was produced by well-known rock and pop producer, Charlie Andrew. The artwork of the album was designed by Japanese digital artist, Osamu Sato, who is most known for his work in the LSD video game series.
PHOTOS: Check out photos of Alt-J working on and performing, “Relaxer.”
The album opens with the hypnotizing track, “3WW,” which incorporates a variety of instruments such as a classical guitar, shakers, and multicolored samples that come together to produce a pleasing atmosphere. The pleasant and intriguing opening of the album provides the listener with a preview with what is to come on the rest of the album.
One of the more notable tracks on the album is the band’s cover of the famous song, “House Of The Rising Sun,” which was written and played by The Animals. The band provides a different yet pleasant interpretation of the song by playing a mellow instrumental that is accompanied by a reverberated chorus. The tracks allows the listener to see deep into the band’s ability to create exciting and astonishing new music.
The band utilizes an array of audio effects and synthesizers to form a distinct tone that is unlike any other contemporary artist. The use of these effects is most notable on the tracks, “Adeline” and “Last Year.” Alt-J use these stimulating audio effects to broaden their array of sound and produce captivating atmospheres for the listener.
Although the tracks provide a pleasing and entertaining atmosphere, the long awaited album after an almost 4-year hiatus provides a short and lackluster amount of tracks. The lack of songs on the album is disappointing and repetitive due to the same sounding tone found throughout the album.
Overall Alt-J’s newest release, “Relaxer,” is a complete success due to the unique tone they produce that separates them from other current artists. The album is a pleasing listen due to the corporation of soothing instrumentals and amusing vocals.
LINK: Listen to Relaxer on Spotify.
Alt-J’s new album, “Relaxer,” was released on June 2 and is available for streaming on Spotify and for purchase on Itunes for $7.99 and is limitedly available on vinyl and cassette tapes.
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