Pleader (song)

"Pleader"
"Pleader"
Single by Alt-J
from the album Relaxer
Released	15 September 2017
Length	5:49 (album version); 2:38 (single version);
Label	Infectious; Atlantic;
Songwriter(s)	Joe Newman; Gus Unger-Hamilton; Thom Sonny Green;
Producer(s)	Charlie Andrew
Alt-J singles chronology

"Pleader" is a song by British indie rock band Alt-J. It is the eighth and final track (and fifth and final single) from their third studio album, Relaxer, and was released as a shortened radio edit digital single on 15 September 2017 by Infectious Music and Atlantic Records.^[1] The song was written by Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton and Thom Sonny Green and produced by Charlie Andrew.

Composition and lyrics

In an interview with NPR, the band said:^[2]

The last track on the record is based on Richard Llewelyn's book How Green Was My Valley?, about a small mining community in nineteenth-century Wales. The song takes the form of a hymn, and so we went to Ely Cathedral^[3] in Cambridgeshire to record the boys' choir and the organ there, to add a church feeling to the track. It is a long song, but we felt the sense of pride and hope it leaves by the end made it the right choice for ending the album.

The novel is referenced throughout the song, including the lyric "How green, how green was my valley?".

Music video

The music video for "Pleader" was released on 15 November 2017, directed by Isaiah Seret. It was executive produced by Rupert Reynolds-MacLean and produced by Sonya Sier.^[4]

Remix

The song was remixed by Mr Jukes, a music project of British musician Jack Steadman of the band Bombay Bicycle Club. The remix features British group the Age of L.U.N.A. and was released as a single on 25 October 2017.^[5]

Track listing

Digital download
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Pleader (Edit)"	2:38

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[6]

Alt-J

Joe Newman – guitar, vocals
Gus Unger-Hamilton – keyboards, vocals
Thom Sonny Green – drums, percussion, programming

Additional musicians

Ely Cathedral Boy Choristers – choir
London Metropolitan Orchestra – strings
Mark Rainbow – background vocals

Technical

Charlie Andrew – production, mixing, engineering, programming
Brett Cox – engineering
Jay Pocknell - engineering
Stefano Civetta – assistant engineering
Paul Pritchard – assistant engineering
Graeme Baldwin – assistant engineering
Dick Beetham – mastering

Artwork and design

Osamu Sato

References

^ "Pleader - Edit". Spotify. 15 September 2017.
^ Boilen, Bob (2 June 2017). "alt-J's 'Relaxer,' Track By Track". NPR. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
^ "Alt-J on Instagram: "We have a new single from the album 'RELAXER': A brand new edit of 'Pleader'. This intimate track was recorded with the choir of Ely Cathedral with help from the cathedral's incredible organ. We hope you enjoy it (Link in bio)"".
^ "alt-J - Pleader (Official Video)". YouTube. alt-J. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
^ "TIDAL". Listen.tidal.com. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
^ "TIDAL". Listen.tidal.com. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.

[1] "Pleader - Edit". Spotify. 15 September 2017.

[2] Boilen, Bob (2 June 2017). "alt-J's 'Relaxer,' Track By Track". NPR. Retrieved 5 October 2017.

[3] "Alt-J on Instagram: "We have a new single from the album 'RELAXER': A brand new edit of 'Pleader'. This intimate track was recorded with the choir of Ely Cathedral with help from the cathedral's incredible organ. We hope you enjoy it (Link in bio)"".

[4] "alt-J - Pleader (Official Video)". YouTube. alt-J. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.

[5] "TIDAL". Listen.tidal.com. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.

[Tidal-6] "TIDAL". Listen.tidal.com. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.

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