Album Review: Efterklang - Piramida

In the two years that have passed since Danish outfit Efterklang's last album, 2010's Magic Chairs, the group have been embracing and honouring silence. The once ten-piece now trio embarked on a journey to Pyramiden – an abandoned Russian settlement – where they captured the sounds of desolation possessed by the city, while taking the name of the settlement for their fourth studio album, Piramida.

With such an interesting back story, it's a shame Piramida doesn't quite live up to expectations. It appears Efterklang may have got caught up in their grandiose concept, rather than focusing on bringing all the elements together to create a masterpiece. Previous albums, such as Tripper (2004) and Parades (2007), embody obvious identities; using beautiful orchestral arrangements and delicate female harmonies to create musical bliss. Piramida, in comparison, mostly takes a more stripped-back approach, which unfortunately conveys confusion rather than the richness that was surely intended. Casper Clausen's vocals take the spotlight this time around, to the album's detriment, as his voice doesn't always complement the music. The 70-piece all-girl choir featured on three of the tracks had potential to add a much needed extra punch; however, the girls are tragically under-utilised. That's not to say the album is without merits. Told To Be Fine is the diamond in the rough, a stunning piece that creates the audio-imagery of a glistening brook on a Spring day, while the music from Dreams Today could seamlessly fit into the soundtrack of the 2011 movie, Hanna.

As a complete body of work, Piramida is a little taxing, however; tracks could be better appreciated as standalone pieces, with a glass of red wine nearby.