Alt-J - Relaxer (Infectious Records)

The trio actually formed in Yorkshire at Leeds University 10 years ago and are one of this countries most successful bands of late, especially in America, where they have sold millions of records and have performed at Madison Square Gardens.

I always find their music very hard to define: it is very introverted and there are influences from Simon and Garfunkel to Clannad to Radiohead! One minute they sound all rocked up, the next they could be a folk act you would see at your local folk club.

It is certainly not commercial and is completely different from anything else you will hear at the moment.

The Simon and Garfunkel influence can be heard on Last Year which also features a female vocalist Marika Hackman. The Clannad influence is there on the last track on the album, Pleader as it has that ambience about it.

It is not an easy listen and not something you would play in the car, you really need to sit down and absorb it fully, then you will be rewarded.

I give the album 3 out of 5