Efterklang "Springer" EP (more shoegaze-tronic)

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So, is this a reissue from 2003? It seems so in the liner notes. Anyway, this is my first exposure to it... Not so keen on the first two songs, but the second half is amazing! "Redrop", "Bright" (best song), and "Filmosonic XL"....

Points of comparison: Mugison, Free Assocation (maybe), earlier Hochenkeit, Fennesz(?), Systems Officer, maybe the later Notwist(?)

I'm grabbing at straws here.. there's definitely real drums, bass, and guitar and dynamics at play, but not done in a Mogwai/Explosions In The Sky fashion at all.. and there's a backing laptop click/glitch thing going on... it's slow dream-indie-pop that's on the fence between live and electronic instruments...

Great stuff, essentially.

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 04:34 (8 years ago) Permalink

I think the last Efterklnag LP was featured on the OC tonight

― jmeister (jmeister), Friday, 6 May 2005 04:37 (8 years ago) Permalink

I think I saw the album cover during the credits thats all i know maybe it was tarentel I may have gotten them mixed up I didnt watch the show so I cant be sure.

― jmeister (jmeister), Friday, 6 May 2005 04:39 (8 years ago) Permalink

yeah it was efterklang

― jmeister (jmeister), Friday, 6 May 2005 04:40 (8 years ago) Permalink

Damn, I regret missing The O.C. just given the musical choices.. Pinback, and now this..

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 04:43 (8 years ago) Permalink

I guess all you need is:

a) a knack for writing slightly somber pop songs
b) use piano, synthesized or not
c) be slightly glitchy but not too glitchy

and tadah! You're a The O.C. soundtrack superstar! I'm down.

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 04:44 (8 years ago) Permalink

yes, but then you actually have to appear on the show. And would you want that?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 6 May 2005 04:55 (8 years ago) Permalink

next time on the OC: Christian Fennesz!

― jmeister (jmeister), Friday, 6 May 2005 04:59 (8 years ago) Permalink

Ned, you're telling me Rob Crow, Zach Smith, Ben Gibbard, and Jimmy Tamborello played extras on the show itself? If so, why am I not seeing this show?

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 05:09 (8 years ago) Permalink

i heard "ageless beauty" by stars on it the other day. that was nice.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Friday, 6 May 2005 05:09 (8 years ago) Permalink

Well, ok, Efterklang on The O.C. cool...

ANYWAY... MORE ABOUT EFTERKLANG!

please :)

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 05:12 (8 years ago) Permalink

Efterklang is a bunch of art/music majors from Denmark (?) who, in the past, have provided strings, etc. for various Sigur Ros recordings. Last year's full-length Tripper was quite nice in its own right, but I haven't heard this ep yet.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 6 May 2005 05:29 (8 years ago) Permalink

I think the last Efterklnag LP was featured on the OC tonight

put a gold star in the window..

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Friday, 6 May 2005 06:19 (8 years ago) Permalink

so, if what I got was Leaf records' reissue of their debut(?) EP, what's the recent stuff been like?

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:08 (8 years ago) Permalink

for various Sigur Ros recordings

That crumpling noise in this distance was my potential enthusiasm suddenly suffering a sharp check.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:10 (8 years ago) Permalink

Ned, there's a difference between providing strings for another band, and being that band that does the overall arrangement. I'm hardly a Sigur Ros fan (as you personally know), and I love this Efterklang material... there's nothing overly ambitious about it, nor does it "extend its arms in a sense of being self-profound" like what a lot of stuff by Sigur Ros, Godspeed You Black Emperor or Explosions In the Sky etc, seem to be doing, from my p.o.v.

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:14 (8 years ago) Permalink

Not that there's anything wrong with being self-profound (hello, Billy Corgan), but I'm not into the interminable mechanism in which the aforementioned bands do it. Efterklang are not in that category, although they may often be mentioned in the same breath..

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:15 (8 years ago) Permalink

Then I am much relieved. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:25 (8 years ago) Permalink

I can see why a Sigur Ros fan would like Efterklang.. but I don't see how someone who likes Efterklang would immediately like Sigur Ros.

I guess Capitol K's Island Row is a better point of comparison. Springer is not nearly as glitchy or loud as Island Row gets... but I think it's the female/male harmonies, like on Capitol K's "Heat" that remind me of Island Row in particular.

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:28 (8 years ago) Permalink

The ways in which gaze has now become continuum these days pleases and amuses me, since so much of it is now defiantly set against reproduction via rock instruments -- it's as if people concluded, "You know, why bother trying to recreate the lineups when reusing the sound?" Which I think is good, but Spencer I know has always felt that most gaze failed *because* it didn't rock, or lacked the sheer violent energy that was often sublimated.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:30 (8 years ago) Permalink

I like Sigur Ros, Efterklang and Capitol K. Am I a freak?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:31 (8 years ago) Permalink

Hardly. In this context at least. (I can call you a freak if you want! Just for fun.)

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:33 (8 years ago) Permalink

A SUPERfreak.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:33 (8 years ago) Permalink

Well, Efterklang are on both sides of the fence as far as electronic vs. real instruments. It's why I liked Mugison's first album Lonely Mountain. The blend between "is this a real instrument or is it not?" was given a nice Gaussian blur... I want more stuff like this.. no more electronic 'gaze purism, and no more real instrument 'gaze purism.. please.

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:35 (8 years ago) Permalink

Might I suggest the new Manual album Azure Vista? Produced by Simon Raymonde... and, boy, can you tell it.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:38 (8 years ago) Permalink

Mugison? I know them not.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:42 (8 years ago) Permalink

http://www.mugison.com/stuff/music.htm

He's released two albums since Lonely Mountain, so I haven't had a change to compare and contrast. I also have full mp3s of that first album on doubleya doubleya doubleya dot mackron dot kom.

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:46 (8 years ago) Permalink

chance, not change

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 16:47 (8 years ago) Permalink

efterklang sound more like mum than sigur ros except with a male voice on most songs. the manual album is beautiful, it's the shoegaze crescendo thing taken to absurd heights.

to learn of mugison and loads of other obscure icelandic stuff go
here

apparently smekkleysa is icelandic for bad taste.

― keith m (keithmcl), Friday, 6 May 2005 20:48 (8 years ago) Permalink

Well, Bad Taste is the name of the record label since the 80s for much of the Icelandic rock/underground music scene.. The Sugarcubes were borne out of it. Rough Trade even distributed Bad Taste label stuff in the U.S. and U.K. briefly, and I stress "briefly". (Anyone out there have Bless's Gums, Reptile's Fame and Fossils, or the V/A comp World Domination Or Death Vol. 1?)

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 21:07 (8 years ago) Permalink

efterklang sound more like mum than sigur ros except with a male voice on most songs.

Hmmmm. Why does Múm bore the shit out of me, and Efterklang doesn't? (Not contradicting you, Keith. Just earnestly questioning myself here.)

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 21:09 (8 years ago) Permalink

but the clicks and bleeps are the sometimes odd pacing are very similar i think. efterklang are surely more traditional sounding. maybe i just want all bands to sound like mum since i like them tons and i don't like sigur ros at all.

― keith m (keithmcl), Friday, 6 May 2005 21:17 (8 years ago) Permalink

i like efterklang a lot too, i hope they ditch the choral vocals though, it tries to make things grander than they are and sounds a bit sterile.

― keith m (keithmcl), Friday, 6 May 2005 21:18 (8 years ago) Permalink

I totally disagree. Choral vocals over starkness sounds great to me.. that's why I like that Capitol K "Heat" song so much.

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 6 May 2005 21:52 (8 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I don't think I'd like Efterklang as much without the choral parts.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 6 May 2005 21:53 (8 years ago) Permalink

So I picked up the album Tripper recently, and now a lot of comments above make a lot more sense.

Yeah, I can now understand what Keith is saying about the choral singing on that album. There isn't any on the Springer EP. I don't mind choral vocals however... or, generally, things that make otherwise "rock" bands more "classical" sounding, whatever the intention.

However, Tripper is taking a longer time to grow on me, whereas Springer immediately endeared me; mainly because, I think, Tripper often falls into that GYBE! trap of "OK, we'll do some orchestrating that makes you tremble and make it ascend and ascend and change and ascend and change every chord!, and then just.. well.. peter out and never resolve", except without the perpertual dynamics bombast loop that GYBE! falls in. Still though, while that technique wins the hearts of many, I'm a picky bitch and want these things to, you know, resolve most of the time at least. Springer does that, but it's just a half hour EP. Tripper does too, but just not as often. I guess the plan for Tripper was to be more "soundtrack"-ey, and be more abstract, for a lack of better term. Essentially, I like Tripper, and it's still growing on me. But Springer, well, sprung upon me and got my love right away. So any complaints above should be directed towards a purchase of Springer, from what I can surmise.

Hell, I might as well just provide YSI links to two tracks off each release... you guys compare and contrast. Each release does have some variety, with some consistent feel, so while these tracks aren't necessarily clones of the rest of their stuff, it definitely gives you the idea of this band's "sound":

From Springer, 2003:

"Redrop"
http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1G735YCL2RXCC1MLQT77YQ859U

"Bright"
http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1PIF7IUZQQGU53QY0V0U5BH3EO

From Tripper, 2004:

"Prey and Predator"
http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=05TLUZA3OCICD1YX37YHTK020C

"Doppelgänger"
http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1ZS45MT0FWZC72C7CEZUCBZCPH

― donut debonair (donut), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 18:07 (8 years ago) Permalink

Efterklang on The OC and Psapp all over Gray's Anatomy; TV loves teh Leaf.

― echoinggrove (echoinggrove), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 18:22 (8 years ago) Permalink

Potheads.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 18:25 (8 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

they just signed grizzly bear and did a remix.
i much prefer tripper to springer, but both are great. i wish they'd come stateside to tour

― kev, Monday, 29 August 2005 21:06 (7 years ago) Permalink

i want to see them live so badly. they made last winter for me so easy

― breezy, Tuesday, 30 August 2005 03:28 (7 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

Heard the new album Parades. I love it. Though if you like Tripper, and you want Followup To Tripper, you're going to be disappointed. This is less electronic, and more in the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Eno, classical direction. Yes, sometimes it sounds too Medieval for my tastes, but this is just a minor blemish IMHO on an otherwise easy top 10 of 2007 contender. That Under Giant Trees Ep from earlier this year is just an example overall of one type of song on this album (thankfully.. wasn't a big fan of the EP. It was alright, but a bit samey.)

I'm guessing this will be the gateway album for Sigur Ros fans.

― Mackro Mackro, Thursday, 22 November 2007 07:14 (5 years ago) Permalink

(and apologies for ever -- EVER -- using the term "shoegaze-tronic")

― Mackro Mackro, Thursday, 22 November 2007 07:15 (5 years ago) Permalink

Go in peace and neologize no more.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 22 November 2007 07:16 (5 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

Not a lot of love for Parades, was there?

Anyhow, new album out next month on 4AD:

February 22nd 2010 we will release our third full length album and we are exited! We’re calling this new baby for Magic Chairs and we are curious to find out how you will like it as it definitely introduces a new Efterklang sound.

http://efterklang.net/home/2009/11/19/magic-chairs-our-new-album-listen-to-new-song/

― We should have called Suzie and Bobby (NickB), Wednesday, 13 January 2010 20:34 (3 years ago) Permalink

Not sure how much I like that new song btw.

― We should have called Suzie and Bobby (NickB), Wednesday, 13 January 2010 20:36 (3 years ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

If there are any fans of this group in Atlanta the Earl has just added a show on Monday 9/27 and Field Music is opening!

― ellaguru, Tuesday, 14 September 2010 16:14 (2 years ago) Permalink

6 months pass...

We had our own screening of An Island here in Luxembourg last night http://efterklang.net/home/category/an-island/.

― Daniel Giraffe, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 07:08 (2 years ago) Permalink

Completely kicking myself that I didn't know about this sooner, I would have hosted a small screening at my workplace, now it's all over dammit!

― MaresNest, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 09:54 (2 years ago) Permalink

Also, curious to know what people think of these guys who have been supporting Efterklang here and there.

― MaresNest, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 09:59 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

is there anothre thread for these guys? wondering whether I should go see them play with this orchestra thingy.

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Thursday, 18 October 2012 09:51 (7 months ago) Permalink

you should. saw them in sydney over the summer and it was awesome.

― Chief Queef (stevie), Thursday, 18 October 2012 10:55 (7 months ago) Permalink

I wish their tour was coming a little closer. Well, there's Warwick, but that night's no good. Terrific album, need to spend a lot more time with it.

― mike t-diva, Thursday, 18 October 2012 14:06 (7 months ago) Permalink

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