Efterklang - Parades

Parades is the eagerly anticipated second album of Efterklang, one of Denmark's best love groups. Gentle and moving whilst at the same time grandly epic, the band aptly describe their songs as parades whose multiple sounds drift past the listener. Ethereal choral voices will morph into soothing piano melodies before dropping into quirky beats. This is music which is as magically visual as it is audible - a feast for the imagination. Efterklang are not afraid to experiment and their ambition pays off. The group employ a range of sounds - an organic string section, choral work, electronic beats and rhythms - weaving them all together into rich textiles. Frida Found a Friend is reminiscent of Radiohead's recent work with falsetto voices and mesmerising electronic beats while Caravan is another blinder - bold, upbeat sounds and an eclectic mix of choral voices and brass. [Gwennie von Einsiedel]