Alt-J - An Awesome Wave cover
Alt-J (∆) – ‘An Awesome Wave’

Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2012: Alt-J – ‘An Awesome Wave’

It’s hard to pinpoint Alt-J exact sound with the band aggregating numerous familiar elements and churning them into delicious novel sound bytes. Armed with a mercurial live set and an album that seemingly peaks on every track Alt-J were one of 2012 best surprises.

‘An Awesome Wave” is sprayed with guitar arpeggios, eerie pianos and contemporary beats blended together in cinematic fashion. The tracks crash into one another introducing new elements and returning to familiar motifs in savvy style allowing for frontman Joe Newman‘s cryptic lyrics to flow majestically above.

The new Radiohead? Perhaps not, But Alt-J have succeed in releasing an album that sticks to its left-field aspirations while remaining entirely listenable.

Sam added it to his top 10 saying “If winning a Mercury prise wasn’t enough, Alt-J’s debut album is awash with quirky melodies, fresh beats and cryptic lyrics. Interludes are used well to enhance rather than prolong the album as the listener rides through an awesome wave of intricate, at times heavy, but crucially, unique Alt-J sounds“.

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TRACKS:

An Awesome Wave (Deluxe Version) - Alt-J (∆)

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