Alt-J win over Glastonbury 2015’s triangle-shaped stage

The toughest act to follow at Glastonbury? Lionel Richie, bringing in a crowd of over 100,000 for his legend slot. An hour after the mass scatters, Alt-J arrive on the Pyramid Stage, and not only because triangles are their favourite shape.

Second album ‘This Is All Yours’ has launched the trio towards headline status. They’re topping the Latitude bill amidst an endless summer of festival slots. Whether they can take on Glastonbury in similar fashion is another question. Beginning with ‘Hunger of the Pine’, it takes a while for the space to reach Richie-style fever. ‘Fitzpleasure’ warms things up, but it’s not until ‘Left Hand Free’ that Alt-J begin to exert their control.

Once they have, there’s a sense that they could go one step further, give or take a couple of records. Closer ‘Breezeblocks’ is the closest thing they have to an all-out anthem, but for the most part it’s the detailed idiosyncrasies that earn their stripes. Step-by-step, they’re inches away from conquering the very top.