MP3: Modern Drift
Over the last ten years, the men of Danish band Efterklang have been conjuring up and evolving a sound that is finally getting some decent exposure on our side of the Atlantic. Childhood friends Casper Clausen, Mads Brauer and Rasmus Stolberg grew up on the small island of Als and relocated to Copenhagen in 2000, with the collective aspiration of making music for a living. Quite ambitious as only a handful of bands coming out of Denmark have gained international recognition. (The three that come to mind are Mew, The Raveonettes and, yes… Aqua) Drummer Thomas Husmer joined them soon after the move and their first EP, Springer, came out in 2003. In those three years, they began their own label, Rumraket, from which they continue to work. (Rumraket’s first non-Efterklang release was Grizzly Bear‘s Horn of Plenty.)
Efterklang was recently added to London-based label 4AD, which will release their new album Magic Chairs in late February. This album has made quite a hike from previously recorded material (released on The Leaf Label) that meandered through electronic experimentation (Tripper) and orchestral proclamation (Parades). While there will still be enough instrumental creativity going on to satisfy old fans, there will also be constructed melodies that those who follow The Dodos and Mum will appreciate. They also consistently have some of the most amazing album artwork thanks to the brains of Hvass&Hannibal.
Live video of the Sufjan-meets-Sigur Ros song “Cutting Ice to Snow” after the jump. Continue reading