The Dream (Alt-J album)
2022 studio album by Alt-J
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The Dream is the fourth studio album by English indie rock band Alt-J, released on 11 February 2022 by Infectious Music and the Canvasback Music division of Atlantic Records. It was promoted with the single "U&ME", which was released alongside the album's announcement on 22 September 2021.[1] The track listing for the album was also revealed on this date through publication Stereogum.[2] "Get Better" was released as the album's second single on 3 November 2021 and was accompanied by a pixel-art music video.[3] "Hard Drive Gold" was released as the album's third single on 5 January 2022. "The Actor" was released as the fourth single on 7 February 2022.
| The Dream | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 12 February 2022 | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 49:22 | |||
| Labels |
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| Producer | Charlie Andrew | |||
| Alt-J chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Dream | ||||
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Artwork
The artwork for The Dream's cover is a drawing by the artist Joel Wyllie.[4]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.8/10[5] |
| Metacritic | 79/100[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| Beats Per Minute | 64%[8] |
| Clash | 7/10[9] |
| DIY | [10] |
| Gigwise | [11] |
| The Independent | [12] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[13] |
| NME | [14] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[15] |
| Uncut | 6/10[16] |
The album received a four-star rating from The Observer, who said it was a "stroll around the curiosity shop". In the same review the band's embrace of American sounds was noted.[17]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Joe Newman, Thom Sonny Green, and Gus Unger-Hamilton.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bane" | 5:10 |
| 2. | "U&ME" | 3:18 |
| 3. | "Hard Drive Gold" | 2:38 |
| 4. | "Happier When You're Gone" | 4:00 |
| 5. | "The Actor" | 4:00 |
| 6. | "Get Better" | 5:51 |
| 7. | "Chicago" | 3:55 |
| 8. | "Philadelphia" | 3:38 |
| 9. | "Walk a Mile" | 6:29 |
| 10. | "Delta" | 1:00 |
| 11. | "Losing My Mind" | 4:42 |
| 12. | "Powders" | 4:41 |
| Total length: | 49:22 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "The Actor" (Single Edit) | 3:07 |
| 14. | "U&ME" (Single Edit) | 3:16 |
| 15. | "Hard Drive Gold" (Loor Remix) | 4:03 |
| 16. | "Hard Drive Gold" (Maya Jane Coles Remix) | 5:13 |
| 17. | "U&ME" (Baauer Remix) | 4:54 |
| Total length: | 69:55 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Oceans Are Forming" (Demo) | 4:07 |
| 14. | "Hard Drive Gold" (Loor Remix) | 4:03 |
| 15. | "U&ME" (The De Beauvoir Session) | 3:13 |
| 16. | "Get Better" (The De Beauvoir Session) | 5:25 |
| 17. | "Matilda" (The De Beauvoir Session) | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 70:01 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "The Dream" (CARBS Cycles Remix) | 9:40 |
| 14. | "The Dream" (CARBS Lucid Remix) | 4:53 |
| 15. | "The Dream" (CARBS NREM Remix) | 5:02 |
| Total length: | 68:57 | |
Personnel
Alt-J
- Joe Newman – vocals, guitar (all tracks), additional percussion (2)
- Thom Sonny Green – drums, percussion, programming (all tracks); additional percussion (2), spoken voice (12)
- Gus Unger-Hamilton – keyboards, synthesizer (all tracks); backing vocals (1, 3–12), organ (1, 2, 4, 6, 11), additional percussion (2), bass (3, 9, 11)
Additional musicians
- David Force – bagpipes (1), crumhorn (1, 2)
- Reinoud Ford – cello (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9)
- Will Gardner – conductor, string arrangement (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9); backing vocals (9)
- Tim Rundle – crumhorn (1, 2)
- Andy Marshall – double bass (1, 2, 5, 7–9)
- Charlie Andrew – programming (all tracks), additional percussion (2)
- Highgate School Choir – vocals (1–3)
- Tyler DeFord – sound effects (2)
- Matthew Ward – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
- Ciaran McCabe – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
- Kirsty Mangan – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
- Anna Zara Newman – spoken voice (3)
- Cordelia Unger-Hamilton – spoken voice (3)
- April Unger-Hamilton – backing vocals (4, 5), spoken voice (6)
- Sarah Andrew – bassoon (4)
- Trevor Mires – trombone (6)
- Christie Valeriano – backing vocals (8)
- George Eddy – backing vocals (9)
- Andrew Cohen – sound effects (9)
- Arianna Cohen – spoken voice (9, 12)
- Matt Glasbey – spoken voice (11)
- Mark Newman – spoken voice (11)
Technical
- Charlie Andrew – production, mixing
- Dick Beetham – mastering
- Matt Glasbey – mixing, engineering (all tracks); additional production (1, 10)
- George Collins – engineering assistance (1, 3, 10–12)
- Katie Earl – engineering assistance (1–4, 9–12)
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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