Efterklang — Tripper

I Bought Tripper after seeing Efterklang live, supporting  Fog recently . The band made such a impression on me. I can’t remember the last time this has happen.And I’m happy to say the album stands up to the quality of what I saw live.

Efterklang mix glitchy electronics with live strings and other organic instrumentation. This debut album is a really treat for the ears and soul. Each track has so many things going on, but at the same time is amazingly focused and full of lush grace. The band features a whooping ten members, but the sound is never over crowed. Piano tickling leads to epic modern classic string flourishers leads to poignant banks of choir voices to layered atmospheric electro pop.
 
All most every track is great from Prey and predator with its tinkling stuck piano cords and stuttering electronics. And sleepy vocals rising to wonderful hypnotic effect of with truly awe inspiring choir work.  To Collecting Shields which starts with a solo choir voice and nursery rhyme like piano and electronics. Then sliding into haunting electro pop, building to a triumphant finale-mixing trumpet with string’s and choir. The instrumentally Tortuous tracks feels like running through a snow storm then realizing your lost but you are struck by the wonder of  white landscape glinting in the dieing sunlight, the track is toped off with some dreamy trumpet work.

The highlight has to be the last track Chapter 6 with its repetitive Steve Reich like piano melody joined by a glicthy rhythm and the joint male/female vocals. The vocals are wonderful forlorn and timeless quality to them often embellished with soaring choir work and added to this Wonderfully epic strings that sweep in and of view. It brings to mind flying over a vast ornate city; the buildings and landscape tainted by decay, but the tallest towers are still golden glinting in the brilliant sunlight. It just has such an air of lost grandeur and fallen splendour. The track twists and turns,humbly but wonderful dense with sound.
 
The other great side to the group are there superb collage videos that they use live . Two are featured on the ltd edition of  Tripper that I picked up. They use old films and other imagery in such a unique, dramatic and interesting way, the images rush at you in a strobe like fashion. It really adds another edge to the music.
 
I can’t think of many debut albums that have radiated such quality and individual voice in a long time. The album flows beautiful from track to track,coming off like a warm murky dream that's rippled with unknown sadness. A classic