8/10

What has been fascinating about alt-J over the years has been their ability to remain consistent to their formative sound, yet still produce something fresh and exciting with every release. Ever since they dropped their stunning debut album 'An Awesome Wave' in 2012, the group have rarely mixed things up in the years since, but have still managed to find something new and interesting to focus on this last decade. And now with a five-year break since their previous LP 'Relaxer', they return with another warm and sweeping dose of their unique direction.

Although it is fair to say that they have refined their sound over the years, there is still something almost nostalgic about listening to 'The Dream'. Sounding closer to their first full-length than they ever have since, the band are leaning into their initial identity like never before. Jam-packed with a warm and intense atmosphere that sees frontman Joe Newman deliver another instantly identifiable and rousing performance throughout, this kind of stuff seems to come so easy to them at this stage. Rarely faltering and maintaining a fascinating aesthetic from start to finish.

Now one decade into their career, alt-J have pulled off an incredible run of records, and 'The Dream' shows that they are far from falling short of the mark just yet. It has this wonderfully inventive yet consistent flow to it, filling itself with rich and ambitious ideas that seem only possible when these three are involved.