About
alt-J (∆)’s name takes a little explaining. Pronounced “alt-J”, the delta sign is created when you hold down the alt key on your computer keyboard and punch ‘J’ on a Mac computer. The symbol has a deeper meaning for the band, as guitarist/bassist Gwil Sainsbury notes, “in mathematical equations it’s used to show change,” and the band’s relatively new name came at a turning point in their lives.
Gwil, Joe Newman [guitar/vocals], Gus Unger-Hamilton [keyboards] and Thom Green [drums] met at Leeds University in 2007. Gus studied English Literature; the other three Fine Art. In their second year of studies, Joe played Gwil a handful of his own songs inspired by his guitar-playing dad and hallucinogens, and the pair began recording in their dorm rooms with Gwil acting as producer on Garageband.
Needless to say, the response to Joe’s hushed falsetto yelps and Gwil’s rudimentary sampling skills was good. When Thom was played the tracks he joined the band straight away. “I hadn’t heard anything like it,” he says. “It was music I was looking for, I just didn’t know I was. I just loved it.”
Gus completed the band’s lineup and together – first as Daljit Dhaliwal and then as Films – the four friends spent the next two years playing around town, developing a precise and unique brand of alt. pop that draws on poignant folk verses, crushing synths, smart hip hop syncopations and tight vocal harmonies. They dropped the moniker of Films in 2007, largely to avoid confusing the band with Californian punk troupe The Films. alt-J (∆) gave them a unique name to go with the unique ‘folk-step’ that they now concoct in the basement of a terrace house in Cambridgeshire.
Intro was originally called 'Nod to the Canon', which really says it all - it's a small wink of acknowledgment to everything that we have unconsciously borrowed/stolen which has unwittingly contributed to our body of work to date.
So I suggest taking the time out to read book/chapter and then listening to the song - maybe with a fresh perspective.
The song is a retelling of the last few pages of this particular chapter and story - going into too much detail may spoil the song and book.
Fitzpleasure is based on a particular chapter in the Hubert Selby Jr. book Last Exit to Brooklyn titled 'Tralala'.
It looks at Capa's death and his impending arrival into the arms of his love Gerda Taro who died many years before him in similar circumstances.
The song describes Capa's last moments, before and after his foot finds a land mine.
Taro is about two war photographers/lovers, Robert Capa and Gerda Taro.
It compares a 'happy slap' to the slap a whale's tail makes when hitting the sea.
The song talks specifically about being attacked on Southampton Common by a group of youths.
Bloodflood is all about the adrenaline-flavoured fear that fireworks all over the body when one feels in danger.
Ms describes the raw nagging hangover of a broken relationship, but is counterbalanced by both the hope of future friendship by both parties.
The song is fuelled by the shared demise of both the protagonist and antagonist - and repeats Leon's last words to his final adversary.
He is an assassin who grows too close to a young girl named Matilda.
Matilda looks at the last moments of Leon in the eponymous film by Luc Besson.
Then I would drift off to her making sounds of the sea.
Together we would go over who was there, what they were doing and wearing, the food we had brought, the ice creams being sold, the weather and all the sounds of the beach.
Dissolve Me is about the bedtime routine I had as a child with my mum - she would play this game in which she would describe a day out to the beach.
The death of the matador represents the end of the crush.
This gruesome event acts as an analogy for the slow mending of a broken heart through fun distractions.
Something Good is a song that documents the death of a matador.
The song borrows ideas from the book about parting to help describe the pains and pangs of an unrequited love.
Breezeblocks is based on the children's book by Maurice Sendak,Where The Wild Things Are.
She prays to only ever be happy and hidden from worry and her cries are answered by barking dogs.
Interlude 1 talks about a young woman who dreams desperately of a carefree life - with no hiccups, trauma or obstacles.
This song definitely marked a new sound for us, and was quite a breakthrough.
Tessellate is about the lingering of an old flame and the physical intimacy shared with that particular individual.
@ArthManual: thank you!
@jacob-symons: enjoy the free demos and bide your time...
@alt-J: where is a good venue is Brussels?
@HIPPY DEATH SUITE: soon I hope. I have a friend who lives there
@HIPPY DEATH SUITE: you're too kind! :)
@DARKTIDES: thank you!
@oupst: à Paris ou à Hyères?^^