∆ - All Yours

Image from DIYMag.

After the departure of an original band member, Alt-J is finally returning with even more of their magic. They thought they would not be able to come back without him, but we are thrilled that they were completely and undoubtedly wrong.

Alt-J has been releasing a song every few weeks since the beginning of August from their highly anticipated sophomore album This Is All Yours (to be released on September 22). Here is a taste of what is to come:

Watch "Hunger of the Pine":

This was Alt-J's first single released from the new album and "Hunger of the Pine" is in typical Alt-J style. But it prompts you to ask yourself an important question. The first is have you ever had a vendetta to slay all the things on your to-do list with a swift arrow? Let this song pump you up. I'm serious- I recommend putting it on repeat for a full eight hours. How do you think this blog post was written?

Listen to "Every Other Freckle":

When you listen to "Every Other Freckle", you might feel as if you are in a dark old circus in the middle of the forest, under the full moon. Think a Robin Hood Cirque du Soleil. You might even grow some acrobatic freckles by the end of the song. Again, this song reflects Alt-J's signature style.

*Edit: Check out Alt-J's recently released music videos (that's right, plural) for this song. 

Boy/Girl variations. What do you think?

Watch "Left Hand Free":

If you feel like you should be riding around on a four-wheeler to this song, being followed by clouds of dust as you do donuts, then you are on the right track. Thom Green revealed in an interview that “Left Hand Free” was created in 20 minutes to please the label for a more American sound. They refer to it as the “least Alt-J song ever.” It is quite different than what they’ve made before, but their satirical style of the song shines through to expose the clever band that we love. They ran with the idea of the song probably becoming a NRA theme song when they produced the music video.

Alt-J has already seemed to master their craft. They take you on a trip, without any help from hallucinogens. Alt-J knows how to create music that will invoke feelings of euphoria and tickle your ears. You plug into their music, and ask yourself Where am I? Is this a new world? An old world? Is this 1975 Santa Barbara with synthesizer? And these are all valid questions. Because, perhaps, you are somewhere else in that moment.

And now we have a glance at some more of their new songs, thanks to the good ol’ NPR Front Row! Check out some more songs on the new album by clicking the link. You can find:

Bloodflood Pt 2 @ 24:25

Warm Foothills, The Gospel of John Hurt, Nara/Leaving Nara: starting @ 43:20

To keep up with further releases, visit Alt-J's YouTube Channel.
Dig what you hear? Pre-order the songs and/or album from iTunes here.