More about: Alt-J

It is in a former stained glass factory that alt-J make their long-awaited return to live performing. It is a small affair; there are perhaps thirty people gathered at Fender's new central London showroom, an environment that adds to the reverent atmosphere.

The band—minus percussionist Thom—are here to demonstrate the brand new Fender Acoustasonic Player Telecaster, an electro-acoustic guitar with a honeyed tone and a design that make it look like an accidental living room art piece.

We have with us tonight Gus, Joe and a short set-list of some of this band's very best. First off, we're treated to the first live outing of 'Get Better', the latest single taken from February album The Dream and the Gigwise Track of the Year. Already one of the most moving songs in recent memory, to hear it stripped back and in an environment of such hushed concentration is sublime.

The pair also give recent single 'U&ME' its first live rendition, plus a song from each of their three long-players. Tonight that's mega-hit 'Tesselate' and 'Dissolve Me' from the Mercury Prize winning An Awesome Wave, 'Warm Foothills' from This Is All Yours and '3WW' off Relaxer (a song, Joe tells us tonight, is inspired by a friend who lost his virginity at a camp fire and thus thinks of sex every time he smells smoke). 

From moment to moment—including when the glockenspeil is set up as part of the backline—the duo are thoroughly alt-J. No one could sound like this, and indeed no one does. Three years off their last public live performance and there is no sign that time away has hampered their ability to create magic.

alt-J played:

Get Better
Tessellate
3WW
U&ME
Warm Foothills
Dissolve Me

The Dream arrives 11 February via Infectious/BMG. 

Issue Two of the Gigwise Print magazine is on sale now! Buy it here.

More about: Alt-J