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First Listen Live: Alt-J, 'This Is All Yours'

Nothing was ordinary about this alt-J show — not that anything is ever ordinary from the artful British band.

But on Tuesday night at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York City, alt-J would play its first concert in eight months: its first without departed friend and bassist/guitarist Gwil Sainsbury, its first with touring member Cameron Knight, and its first playing songs from the upcoming album This Is All Yours.

The new songs have all the power of the old ones, flush with textured sounds from Gus Unger-Hamilton's electronic horns, steel drums, voices, and dense washes of grit. Lyrically, the new songs are equal parts creepy, lovely, puzzling, and expressive. In that expression is precision; you can see it in drummer Thom Green (watch his left hand) and you can hear it in the guitar dynamics and vocal phrasing of Joe Newman. This isn't a band of pyrotechnic wizards, but alt-J's technical prowess helped make this performance a deep pleasure on an extraordinary evening.

Set List

  • "Hunger Of The Pine"
  • "Fitzpleasure"
  • "Something Good"
  • "Left Hand Free"
  • "Dissolve Me"
  • "Matilda"
  • "Bloodflood Pt. 2"
  • "Tessellate"
  • "Every Other Freckle"
  • "Taro"
  • "Warm Foothills"
  • "The Gospel Of John Hurt"
  • "Nara/Leaving Nara"
  • "Breezeblocks"
  • Producers: Mito Habe-Evans, Otis Hart; Event Producer: Saidah Blount; Hosts: Bob Boilen, Russ Borris; Videographers: Mito Habe-Evans, Colin Marshall, Maia Stern, A.J. Wilhelm; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Additional Editing: Colin Marshall; Special Thanks: (Le) Poisson Rouge; Executive Producer: Anya Grundmann

    Copyright 2014 WFUV

    In 1988, a determined Bob Boilen started showing up on NPR's doorstep every day, looking for a way to contribute his skills in music and broadcasting to the network. His persistence paid off, and within a few weeks he was hired, on a temporary basis, to work for All Things Considered. Less than a year later, Boilen was directing the show and continued to do so for the next 18 years.