Efterklang have released a third single, ‘Uden ansigt’, from their forthcoming fifth studio album Altid Sammen, their first release in their native Danish.
‘Uden ansigt’ was written with former Efterklang member Rune Mølgaard (he left the band before the release of 2007’s Parades but has continued to co-write songs such as Magic Chair’s ‘Modern Drift’ and ‘Sedna’ from Piramida). The song features Kjartan Sveinsson (ex-Sigur Ros) on piano, Sir Was (Joel Wästberg), Bert Cools, Indré Jurgelevi?i?t? and Petur Ben. ‘Uden ansigt’ is accompanied by a striking lyric video made by Jonny Sanders. The video features both Danish lyrics and its English translation using the stunning Altid Sammen artwork created by Hvass&Hannibal and SeenCGI.
Vocalist Casper Clausen explains the inspiration behind ‘Uden ansigt’ (‘Without face’): “The lyrics are like pictures to me, based on a moment I once had when biking in Copenhagen. It was raining heavily, everybody packed away under umbrellas, hoodies, hats etc. Faceless, genderless, ageless, colourless. My vision was blurred out and those bodies were moving through the street like faceless ghosts of a Japanese Anime movie, simultaneously haunted, alone and united at the same time.”
Seven years after their last album, Efterklang will release Altid Sammen (meaning “always together”) on 20 September. Deep and sonorous, it is steeped in the sonic experimentation that has long been their trademark since Tripper, the Danes’ 2004 debut. As bold and ambitious in scope as their last collection of songs, Piramida, Casper Clausen (vocals), Mads Brauer (synths, electronics) and Rasmus Stolberg (bass) have taken another creative U-turn, this time fusing baroque instrumentation with their signature expansive sound.
“Altid Sammen’s songs are about belief and togetherness,” Clausen says. “Not in a religious way – none of us are believers of a defined religion. The words are searching for meaning in intimate relationships, in nature, in death and eternity. The bonds we create; to gather, hold hands, sing or share a moment together. We’re all connected, across nations, age, sex and gender. We come together with all of our backgrounds, and we move apart in all sorts of directions, always together.”
Altid Sammen Tracklisting
20 September 2019
- Vi er uendelig
- Supertanker
- Uden ansigt
- I dine øjne
- Hænder der åbner sig
- Verden forsvinder
- Under broen der ligger du
- Havet løfter sig
- Hold mine hænder
