Live Review: Alta have everything 'Figured Out' on their latest downtempo jam

13 August 2018 | 8:15 am | Max Lewis
Originally Appeared In

Melbourne duo ALTA have dropped a downtempo house number with 'Figured Out', off the back of a killer set at Splendour in the Grass.

In no time at all after their massive set at Splendour in the Grass, Melbourne duo ALTA have dropped the emotive club anthem 'Figured Out' - a bold, downtempo ode to the light at the end of the tunnel.

ALTA have had it figured out for some time: after their classic house banger 'Now You Want Me' earlier in the year, they've been going non-stop, so it makes sense their latest effort is a little more restrained. Focusing on substance over style,  'Figured Out' is a contemplative track fit for crying and dancing to in the club.

Anxious keys give rise to an erratic, muffled beat as the layered, soulful vocals of Hannah Lesser soar. The track still retains the classic house magic of ALTA but it's pushed to the background in favour of a narrative about letting go of something once inextricable from you. The beats are still dance-able but they're frantic, ducking and weaving in and out of the mix alongside pitched vocal samples. Lengthy ambient sections fill the space between manic bursts of house, evoking the running thoughts of a vulnerable mind.

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

With 'Figured Out', ALTA prove they aren't just good at button-down house. They've got what it takes to craft a track filled with emotion as well as crisp club hooks, and they've shown it with a four-to-the-floor anthem of loss and renewal. ALTA are fully leaning into their multi-faceted approach, and it's done wonders for them so far. The duo are firmly in their stride, and we can't wait to see where they take us next.

IMAGE BY ABBEY FONTAINE

WORDS BY MAX LEWIS

SEE ALSO