Mercury Prize winning, chart-topping alt-J have released a video for their song THE ACTOR, taken from their critically acclaimed fourth album, THE DREAM, which is out now via Infectious Music / BMG.
Listen to THE DREAM LP: https://alt-j.lnk.to/hdgloorremixPR
The video for The Actor, directed by Saskia Dixie (Nike, About Town, Sinead O’Brien) relates the tale of a classically all-American couple who have been through the ringer. The heroine encounters her partner in an unresponsive state, passed away in a dingy hotel room. She remembers their final moments together before completing one last dance with him. The absurdity of the imagery reflects the cautionary tale lyricism of the song – about a rising star’s life tragically cut short.
The Actor is a track that highlight’s Joe Newman’s growing lyrical prowess throughout The Dream and the band’s expansive sonic ambitions on their fourth album. Eighties leaning synths are paired with a sweeping chorus which features family members of the band on backing vocals. It’s a richly inviting narrative echoed by the signature alt-J sound.
The band recently completed a huge tour across North America and are now set to begin their UK and Ireland tour next month. The tour will include four shows at London Brixton Academy, one of which is a very special show that will see them perform their 2012 Mercury-winning debut AN AWESOME WAVE in full for the first time, on the 10th Anniversary of its release.
MAY
Thu 05 EDINBURGH Liquid Rooms (with ASSAI RECORDS)
Fri 06 GLASGOW Barrowland
Sat 07 GLASGOW Barrowland
Mon 09 LEEDS O2 Academy
Tue 10 BRISTOL O2 Academy
Thu 12 NOTINGHAM Rock City
Fri 13 MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Sat 14 LIVERPOOL Jacaranda Records (with JACARANDA RECORDS)
Mon 16 OXFORD O2 Academy (with TRUCK RECORDS)
Tue 17 LONDON O2 Brixton Academy (Debut LP 10th Anniversary Show)
Wed 18 LONDON O2 Brixton Academy
Thu 19 LONDON O2 Brixton Academy
Fri 20 LONDON O2 Brixton Academy
Sun 22 DUBLIN Olympia Theatre
Mon 23 DUBLIN Olympia Theatre
Wed 25 BELFAST Telegraph Building
Fri 27 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
Sat 28 BRIGHTON Chalk (with RESIDENT RECORDS)
JUNE
Thu 07 KINGSTON Pryzm (with BANQUET RECORDS)
alt-J are one of the most successful British bands of the millennium. Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, and Thom Green have released three studio albums that, between them, have sold more than two million copies and their songs have been streamed over two and a half billion times. Their 2012 Mercury Prize and Ivor Novello Award-winning debut AN AWESOME WAVE was followed two years later by their number one, GRAMMY and BRIT Award-nominated album THIS IS ALL YOURS. In 2017, RELAXER reached the UK album chart Top 10, ahead of a summer of major international shows that included a show at London’s O2 Arena and headline performances at numerous festivals and became their second album to be nominated for the Mercury Prize.
THE DREAM is available on CD and 180g vinyl as well as various limited colour vinyl formats. There is also a limited-edition hardback book CD that reproduces the notebook Joe Newman used to write the album featuring his original handwritten lyrics and drawings. The official artist store also includes merchandise bundles with signed print and exclusive vinyl and cassette formats.
