Algiers Unpacks Its Kaleidscopically Dense 'The Underside of Power' Track By Track

Algiers new album The Underside Of Power is one of 2017's most ambitious and intense records. I love it — but sometimes I have to just have to hit pause. There's a fierceness both in subject and sound and source, including speeches from Fred Hampton of the Black Panthers, bold and dark lyrical imagery of death and rage, sounds of people weeping, drones, chimes and what at times feels like the entire history of rock, gospel and R&B wrapped into fifty-one minutes. There's a lot to unpack here. (So much so that we recently ran a 3,800-word story on the record.)

Considering the density at the core of this record, we asked this Atlanta-born band, now made up of four musicians spread between three cities including New York and London, to hold our hand and talk us through the inspirations and aspirations of it.

Walk Like A Panther

"The song and album begins with a legendary speech from Chicago Black Panther, Fred Hampton. Here is an excerpt from