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Track Listings
| 1. Intro |
| 2. (Interlude 1) |
| 3. Tessellate |
| 4. Breezeblocks |
| 5. (Interlude 2) |
| 6. Something Good |
| 7. Dissolve Me |
| 8. Matilda |
| 9. Ms |
| 10. Fitzpleasure |
| 11. (Interlude 3) |
| 12. Bloodflood |
| 13. Taro |
Product Description
Product Description
Debut studio album by the self-proclaimed 'folk-step' band. It debuted in the top 20 of the UK Albums Chart and features the songs 'Matilda' and 'Breezeblocks'.
Review
It’s hard to place Alt-J. Originally from Leeds, they spend their time in a Cambridgeshire basement making their own brand of uniquely dubbed "folk-step". However, the noises that An Awesome Wave emits far escape the dull, dark depths such a creative location suggests. Instead, it’s a stunning and encompassing affair of both innovative and electrifying musicianship and exemplary song writing.
Comparing Alt-J to contemporary artists or listing their influences is almost pointless. Each song blurs, stutters, and explodes across a tide of instruments and ideas, fresh and addictive. Breezeblocks is early Mystery Jets with Orange Juice choruses while Dissolve Me is post-Skins generation Foals cuddling up to Fleet Foxes by the campfire. It has moments of slick RnB, gorgeous folk harmonies, and even a choir of children glossing nostalgic school memories.
This album spans every workable idea, genre, and influence that can be crammed under the guitar music umbrella, yet it never feels disorientating. Instead, what swoons gracefully through speakers is an entirely comprehendible and accessible collection of beautiful pop songs.
Movement is key on this album. Samples and sounds cascade and cross with elegance, but it’s Joe Newman’s lead vocal that acts as the cement, pulling everything together and guiding it seamlessly into making sense.
Even the lyrics are creatively ambitious. On Breezeblocks he cracks, "She may contain the urge to run away but hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks / Germolene, disinfect the scene, my love." It’s not your usual Valentine’s note but it’s their way of taking on the old in a new way that really marks An Awesome Wave as a deeply exciting record.
Okay, it’s not that Alt-J can’t be pigeon-holed or placed beside peers; it’s more that they deserve more. This debut offering is strong, addictive and enthralling, the perfect accompaniment to any mood, any moment, anywhere.
--James Skinner
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By MattTheMan
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just brilliant, what an awesome CD. I listened to them a bit before going to see them live at Green Man festival and bought the CD as soon as i got back. Live they were absolutely incredible, so unusual. I like all the interludes as well, they work really well and are in themselves beautiful. Also, I love the fact that every track is so individual and different.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By jnwef
Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase
always on the lookout for interesting new music and alt-j do not disapoint. both unique and accessible this is a wonderful album.
39 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By Tetlee
Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase
Been struggling a bit the last year or two to find any new music that inspires.
Took a gamble on this having never heard any Alt-J before, read the reviews and listened to the audio samples and that was enough already to convince me it was worth a purchase.
Wow, what an album! definately the best new music album I've purchased in some years, absolutely wonderful from start to finish and a breath of fresh air amoung the sea of drivel that floods the market these days.
The vinyl release is a nice heavy white vinyl and as with many recent vinyl releases comes with a dowload code for an MP3 of the album, went straight on my phone for when I'm out and about :-)
Highly recommended, thanks to Alt-J my faith in great new music has been restored.
Took a gamble on this having never heard any Alt-J before, read the reviews and listened to the audio samples and that was enough already to convince me it was worth a purchase.
Wow, what an album! definately the best new music album I've purchased in some years, absolutely wonderful from start to finish and a breath of fresh air amoung the sea of drivel that floods the market these days.
The vinyl release is a nice heavy white vinyl and as with many recent vinyl releases comes with a dowload code for an MP3 of the album, went straight on my phone for when I'm out and about :-)
Highly recommended, thanks to Alt-J my faith in great new music has been restored.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Not being a prolific reviewer, something has to make me feel passionate to write about it. This album has now won the Mercury Music Prize and there is much being written about it, most of which is good. Overall, there is a lot of pretentious spewing, both favourable and some not so. Just look at some of the nonsense on metacritic.
I will not demand you buy this, I will not tell you how empty your life will be without it but I will not tell you how dreadful it is either.
I feel inspired to share my opinion though, which as you have already probably guessed, is that I think it is outstanding.
It is not an easy first listen. It feels slightly disjointed and awkward at times. The vocals are unusual but they just do it for me. The lyrics are clever in places and slightly bizarre in others but allow for your own interpretaton. As familiarity with the album grew, so did my appreciation of its beauty.
It's not a particularly lively album, you won't be dancing around the living room listening to it or sticking it on to liven up a party. I actually prefer listening to it when I'm on my own.
The songs and interludes cover love, loss, pain and life. It is a wistful, emotional listen and progresses impressively throughout. It is an album that I listen to from start to finish, repeatedly.
There are also dips into modern culture. If you love the film 'Leon', you will love 'Matilda'. 'Taro' covers the fabled love of 2 war photographers. Rarely does an album make me look into the story behind songs in the way I have with Taro and Capa.
To say this is forging a new music genre is perhaps overstating things. There are hints of other bands in here.... Read more ›
I will not demand you buy this, I will not tell you how empty your life will be without it but I will not tell you how dreadful it is either.
I feel inspired to share my opinion though, which as you have already probably guessed, is that I think it is outstanding.
It is not an easy first listen. It feels slightly disjointed and awkward at times. The vocals are unusual but they just do it for me. The lyrics are clever in places and slightly bizarre in others but allow for your own interpretaton. As familiarity with the album grew, so did my appreciation of its beauty.
It's not a particularly lively album, you won't be dancing around the living room listening to it or sticking it on to liven up a party. I actually prefer listening to it when I'm on my own.
The songs and interludes cover love, loss, pain and life. It is a wistful, emotional listen and progresses impressively throughout. It is an album that I listen to from start to finish, repeatedly.
There are also dips into modern culture. If you love the film 'Leon', you will love 'Matilda'. 'Taro' covers the fabled love of 2 war photographers. Rarely does an album make me look into the story behind songs in the way I have with Taro and Capa.
To say this is forging a new music genre is perhaps overstating things. There are hints of other bands in here.... Read more ›
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By baconear
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
Personally i think this album is the breath of fresh air that music nowadays has craved. Totally original piece of work, nothing ive heard (so far) out there sounds like this.
it has elements of folk, indie, slight dub-step beats and beautiful harmonies. The band came up with a new genre to describe their music its called 'folk-step'
this album is a deserved nominee of the mercury music prize, i would put it in the top 3 out of that list.
it has elements of folk, indie, slight dub-step beats and beautiful harmonies. The band came up with a new genre to describe their music its called 'folk-step'
this album is a deserved nominee of the mercury music prize, i would put it in the top 3 out of that list.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Alt j have been rightly praised for this quite beautiful and subtle work of art. If that sounds pretentious then it fits but this is forgivable as it is so good.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By K
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just... yeah. This album is lovely. Listen to it. All of it. At once, in order.
Also, Amazon downloads are pretty good, not the cheapest of things but sound quality is excellent (obviously, you pay for it) and can be loaded onto multiple devices and burnt to CDs.
Also, Amazon downloads are pretty good, not the cheapest of things but sound quality is excellent (obviously, you pay for it) and can be loaded onto multiple devices and burnt to CDs.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By R. Hook
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought for my girlfriend & she loves it, was keen on first play & has not stopped playing it again & again in her car.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
With accents
Although I have micranes I can always listen to them. I really love this CD, I can warmly recomment them.
Published 5 days ago by Kora Hansen
3.0 out of 5 stars
well...
This was bought as a gift, I haven't listened, so have no idea!
Just filling space as I've been told I have to write more words !!!
Just filling space as I've been told I have to write more words !!!
Published 8 days ago by V
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
Deserved winners of the mercury music prize. A really easy-to-listen-to album, but amazingly original vocals. My favourite track is Something Good.
Published 14 days ago by Miss L. G. CAMPBELL
4.0 out of 5 stars
alt-j
Brilliant album, nice to hear something a bit different, glad i purchased this, and will be seeing them later in the year!
Published 18 days ago by Mrs C Swainston
5.0 out of 5 stars
Something Different
I haven't really heard anything like this although my general knowledge is poor. I think this album is definitely worth buying.
Published 20 days ago by Emma
5.0 out of 5 stars
Give it a listen, trust me.
Spot on and unlike anything I've ever heard before. Every song is different but they will all make the hair on your neck stand on end from pure wonder. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Felicity Ludgate
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good band
The music obviously sells this product.
I am a fan of alt-J and it was much cheaper on here than HMV or other websites/stores when I bought it. Read more
I am a fan of alt-J and it was much cheaper on here than HMV or other websites/stores when I bought it. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Kate Tattersall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding !
Cambridge band Alt J have released an excellent example of high order vocals married with post-apocalytpic audio-sensory stimulus with Album "An Awesome Wave". Read more
Published 21 days ago by Brontosaurus Theorem
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Wave
Well I came pretty late to the Alt-J party and I'm sorry I didn't investigate them earlier. Seriously, when I listened to the whole thing, I knew I'd heard the sound of the future. Read more
Published 25 days ago by De_Nada72
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Awesome Wave
Not only is it a great album but comes in a beautiful and surprising, creative folder. I absloutely love it.
Published 1 month ago by Zsofi Jaszberenyi
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