NEWS
EVENTS
Literature, Gang-Rape & Alt-J
Friday 22nd February 2013 | Antonia
Winners of The Mercury Prize 2012, Alt-J have caught a lot of attention recently. Formed in 2007 at Leeds University, Gus Unger-Hamilton a former English Literature student teamed up with three fine art students; Gwil Sainsbury, Joe Newman and Thom Green. The combination was then safe to form some interesting sounds to fit their ever more interesting lyrics.
‘Breezeblocks’ and ‘Tessellate’ provide listeners with an interesting blend of dub-pop and bare a likeness to Everything Everything, Hot Chip and the Wild Beasts, the latter, Alt-J supported in April 2012. However, above the somewhat melancholic hard to determine vocals come a rush of rather surprising lyrics.
‘Fitzpleasure’ a re-release and growing in popularity amongst their fans from the album An Awesome Wave, retells the story of Tralala a character from the controversial book, “Last Exit to Brooklyn” published in 1964 by Hubert Selby Jr (clear evidence of band members past? I think so). In short, the book intertwines with each of the characters presented in the chapters, the last being the story of Tralala, a prostitute who preys on drunken men in a sailor bar. Notably the darkest chapter culminates in the gang-rape of the drunken Tralala, and yes at some point, a broom is embroiled into the story.
Evident in the lyrics (if you listen hard enough) come some of the more gory details. Look them up for yourself, if you really fancy it!
Antonia Doughty-Seal
@thatantonia
