Single Review: U&ME by ALT-J
Single Review: U&ME by ALT-J
This month marks the welcome return of Leeds indie darlings Alt-J to the Fly Live playlist. Their new song ‘U&ME’ is the first single from their upcoming album ‘The Dream’, set for release on the 11th of February next year. It will be their fourth full studio album after 2017’s ‘RELAXER’ and the two remixes of that record that followed.
After winning the prestigious Mercury Prize for their self-titled debut album in 2012, Alt-J has become one of the UK’s biggest indie acts, and their return to the studio has been eagerly awaited by fans.
Their new single is a laid-back ode to festivals and friendship, themed around holding onto the happy memories of summer. In an interview with NME magazine, the trio described the single as their “most honest song to date”.
The accompanying music video shows the band mucking around in a skate park, though it wouldn’t be Alt-J without a few surreal shots thrown in to keep things interesting. With explosions, blood spattered clothes and a floating cassette representing summers past, it’s an interesting twist on the traditional ‘skateboarding with your buddy’s’ music video.
The song itself starts by capturing the relaxed vibes of sitting with your friends round a festival campfire, before a soaring guitar solo cuts through, hinting at the highs of partying in the sunshine. It’s a strong return to the charts from the trio, and they will certainly be hoping to build on their success with their upcoming tour of the States.
The album art for ‘The Dream’ marks a similar departure from their usual colourful palette, with a pencil sketch of a rain-soaked humanoid hinting at the music to come. Alt-J’s penchant for basing framing their songs around unusual stories and characters returns in the new album, promising “both beauty and darkness” to their long-time fans.
The new album will be released just before their headline tour of North America kicks off, starting on the 22nd of February at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From their humble beginnings playing to crowds at Rescue Rooms in 2012, we look forward to seeing them at some of Nottingham’s premier venues in the near future.
For more of the latest indie releases, tune into Fly Live online for the best in student radio.
Rating: 8/10
By Max Adams
Feature Image and Image credit: @alt-j.band Facebook
