Efterklang - Tripper
[The Leaf Label]

Copenhagan's 10-strong collective of musicians Efterklang, add an array of classical instruments to their blend of frosty electronica and icy melodic oddities. 'Tripper' their debut album, has emerged from the same scene that has also seen classic albums this year from RF ('Falls') and Julian Fane ('Special Forces').

Their's is the sound of suggestive harmonies and electronic undertones, bold and beautiful string sections and other-Wordly noise, recorded under the warm glow of a nightlamp and by the crackle of an open fire. It's as though they have immersed themselves in Múm and The Earlies, then skipped through Iceland's rich tapestry of emotive, electronic-coated music and all things beautiful inbetween, musical or not.

In 'Swarming', you realise Efterklang are the sound of Rachel's meets Matmos, and the rest of the tracks follow similar suit - the old meets the new and traditions are met with contemporary, off-kilter variations and digital embellishments. A year in the making and it clearly shows, the depth and detail gone into creating this album weaves quite dramatic and extreme results.

Essential and spine-tingling in equal measures.

9/10