Efterklang

Speaking of pieces with instruments and electronics going smoothly, I went to see Danish band Efterklang last night. I actually went on a whim, not really knowing who they were, but it turns out they are a sub-genre-inducing Folk/Electronica/Post-pop ensemble featuring: electric guitars, a small vocal choir, violin, trombone, trumpet, drums, percussion and… electronics!

It was the band’s use of technology that I really enjoyed. Most (if not all) of the microphones seemed to have a feed into an effects processor, and these effects were used very nicely to complement, extend or emphasise the instrumental sound. In addition, they had percussive and/or ambient loops, and glitchy breaks, which occasionally took the musical focus, particularly in the song introductions.

The refreshing thing was that despite the technical complexity of the setup, there was not a hint that the electronics would not work as desired. Changes between songs and settings were seamless, with everything appearing to work on cue, and at the correct level. This enabled the audience to relax and enjoy the music rather than being aware (albeit unconsciously) that this was music made with new technology.