Alt-J Deliver Their Most Eclectic Album yet With ‘Relaxer’

British rock faction Alt-J has never been interested in conformity. They’ve always had their eye on genre-slicing, but their latest album takes eccentricity to a whole new level. Sitting at a modest eight tracks, “Relaxer,” seems to span every musical curiosity the band has ever had. Alt-J’s interest in the odd, the eclectic and the noir come full circle here in the form of their third studio album.

Given the shortness of “Relaxer,” the guys didn’t have a choice but to issue nearly half of their album before its official release through singles. This, unfortunately, makes the full drop a little less satisfying as there’s not a whole lot to digest. That said, the wonderful or maddening oddities found here —depending on your view—are worth a listen or three.

The lead single “3WW” moves from background guitar strumming and light snaps towards an enchanting burst of melody and emotion from lead singer Joe Newman. The teaser video for this track, which was uploaded to YouTube with a title typed in binary, is an epileptic sufferer’s nightmare: it features constant (albeit dazzling) and flashing images taken from the Japanese Playstation 1 game “LSD: Dream Emulator.” This was also where the album’s artwork stems. This is no surprise of course, as Alt-J has made clear their obsession with tech particularly relating to computers. This has been known from day one as the name “alt-j” is an Apple Mac keyboard shortcut which creates the capital letter delta (∆). Wolf Alice singer Ellie Roswell contributes vocals on this tune, making it even more memorable. In a newsletter to fans, Newman and the boys said of “3WW”: “Let’s not beat around the bush – we think it could be the best thing we’ve done to date.”

Another single dropped on fans before the release was “In Cold Blood,” quite possibly the most Alt-J song on the album. If fans are looking to reminisce on the band’s past successes, this one will do it. Heavy on the rock, and with plenty of la la la’s, “In Cold Blood” picks up where the band left off with hits like “Fitzpleasure” and “Breezeblocks” from 2012’s “An Awesome Wave.” In an unlikely guest appearance, the great Iggy Pop lends his solid storytelling voice to the music video—which follows a humble Wood Mouse in a day in the life as he (or she) stumbles upon a gruesome murder scene during a search for food.

The band’s riskiest attempt comes in the form of a pseudo-cover “House of the Rising Sun.” As keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton described it, “(It’s) not a cover of The Animals…sort of our version of the folk song.” With lyrical differences here and there, plus a more ominous, foreboding sentiment, they certainly turn it into their own. “Hit Me Like That Snare” would find a home in any garage-rock fan’s crates of old vinyl stacked up in their basement. Newman described this one as “spicy,” elaborating that it’s “about a person who goes to a sex hotel.” Replete with Japanese dialogue and a repeated shouting of “Fuck you, I’ll do what I want to do,” this tune illustrates where Alt-J’s collective heads are at in 2017. “Deadcrush” explores a similar atmosphere, at least to the listener. One can easily imagine this playing in the den of a grimy sex club, with furries and dominatrixes walking about. It’s dark yet simultaneously quirky and sexy.

We all know the feeling of wanting to be with someone, all the while knowing it’ll never happen. “Adeline” is the tale of how “a Tasmanian devil falls in love with a woman as he watches her swim.” An infatuation bound for catastrophe. In fact, misery and happiness weigh heavily on the whole project.  

Songs of love, sex, and murder: that’s what “Relaxer” is all about. The most primal human feelings, desires, and mysteries all wrapped up a unique bow, each more undecipherable than the last. If the reasons behind songs were not explained by the band through tweets and emails, how could a critic possibly give insight into their increasingly intriguing and thrilling material? Leave it to Alt-J to create an album wrapped in a riddle, always leaving fans searching for the answers.

Relaxer” is available on Apple Music June 2.