“The Dream” is an ethereal, stripped-back version of Alt-J

Ever-evolving alt rock trio Alt-J dials down for an expansive and introspective new LP.

In their fifteen years together, Alt-J has created music disinterested in genre or form. This alternative rock trio from Leeds, England pushes the envelope in pursuit of interesting, evocative sounds. Safe to say, it’s worked: the band has hit it big with songs like “Breezeblocks” and “Left Hand Free.”

Most recently, Alt-J released a “redone” version of their last studio album, titled “Reduxer,” featuring artists like Pusha T and Terrace Martin, with a strong emphasis on hip-hop and jazz. Now, the trailblazing band has just released their fourth studio album: “The Dream.”

The band was formed by Joe Newman, Thom Sonny Green, Gus Unger-Hamilton and Gwilym Sainsbury in 2007, although they parted ways with Sainsbury in 2014. The group has released three studio albums since their 2012 debut, “An Awesome Wave,” and garnered both critical acclaim and notoriety within the alternative music scene. This recognition included winning the British Mercury Prize and being Grammy-nominated for “Best Alternative Music Album.”

Alt-J has consistently expanded and evolved their sound over the course of their discography. Known for eclectic writing and production, each Alt-J record has offered a new sonic landscape and lyrical mood. For “An Awesome Wave,” dynamic alternative rock with folk influences was the underlying focus. Though on subsequent records “This Is All Yours” and “Relaxer,” Alt-J took a turn towards deep, cutting songwriting with both acoustic and electronic flavors. Their new LP, “The Dream,” continues their innovative streak with an emotional, atmospheric collection of 12 brand-new tracks.

While “The Dream” still features the tasteful drumming of Thom Sonny Green, new compositions feature simpler and more laid-back beats, compared to prior Alt-J records. The space that this percussive reduction leaves is filled by adventurous vocal harmonization between Newman and Unger-Hamilton, along with well-placed samples in tracks like, “Walk a Mile” and “Philadelphia.” So, while most songs on “The Dream” still have a tight and catchy groove, the overarching tone has become decidedly more subtle and delicate.

Similar to their intriguing shifts in instrumentation from track to track, Alt-J delivers striking, idiosyncratic lyrical concepts with each song. For users listening on Spotify, the band includes short commentaries for each track, giving context to the wide variety of subject matter that “The Dream” encompasses.

These lyrical escapades begin on the very first track, “Bane,” which recounts a gripping addiction… to soda. The lyrics follow:

“I'll dive in / Swimming and drinking / And when my parents tell me to come in / I'll just ignore them and keep on drinking / Cola, cola / Fizzy cola […] In the middle of the night, I get a craving and I wake up for you”

Alt-J’s bizarre, or even tongue-in-cheek, expositions never stop each track from diving into deeper feelings, as the focus often lands on larger themes by the song’s end.

“The Dream” finds its emotional center on the sixth track, “Get Better.” This soft, detailed song follows the ruminations and memories of the singer’s dying lover. The narrator attempts to hold onto hope throughout, and even begins fantasizing after their partner is gone:

“When out of ICU, you'll cringe at all the "I love you’s” / The card retired the life of one biro […] I still pretend you're only out of sight in another room / Smiling at your phone”

However, the mood lightens in the second half of the album. With each passing song, the uniqueness and surprise of Alt-J’s trippy concepts makes listening to “The Dream” exciting.

In typical fashion, the band includes a beautiful acapella interlude, “Delta,” which continues the stripped-down, unplugged feel of the album. The album finishes with the slow and swinging tunes, “Losing My Mind” and “Powders.”

When compared holistically to prior records, “The Dream” at its end produces a different take on Alt-J’s style: one of slower tempo, softer instrumentation and patient songwriting. So while not all the tracks live up to the unfiltered zaniness of past Alt-J albums, the 49-minute track list ultimately flows together well and suggests a thorough, chronological listen.