Efterklang

Whelan’s, Dublin

Anyone who had seen Efterklang live, would have had high hopes for this show. That those hopes were more than realised is testament, not just to the new work on

Magic Chairs

, the Danish band’s third album, but to their development into truly gifted performers. By the end, this had already become a contender for gig of the year.

Prior to the new album, the band announced it would be moving in a different direction. But the blueprint has not entirely been changed, they have played on their strengths to produce songs of even greater power: a fusion of neo-classical, electronica and pop, but now leaning heavily towards the latter.

It is in a live setting that this newer Efterklang – the four core members supplemented by three collaborators – come into their own. In

Full Moon

, the compositions are shorter and more direct, with the cerebral sacrificed for the feeling.

This was a gig without a weak moment and a performance that maintained great energy and ebullience from start to finish.

While each member of the band is due praise, Casper Clausen stood out as a rare species of frontman. And Alike, all tribal beats and soothing brass, provided an ideal platform for the beanpole singer to dem- onstrate his impressive range.