Papir

The bulk of the Danish bands that have cropped up here have been from the El Paraiso Roster, an ever evolving collective that swirls through the edges of prog, jazz, post-rock, synth, and psych. Papir have always been perpendicular runners to the label, existing on their own, taking a run of releases through the label, and lending out lead guitarist Nicklas Sørensen to label standouts Edena Gardens. For the past few years, though, the band itself has had a sterling run on German label Stickman. They return to the forefront of the label for their latest release, a seven-part suite titled IX. The record embraces the band’s unrestrained style, a record that thrives on dynamics, diving towards the most ebullient end of the post-rock spectrum as it simultaneously churns at jazz and jam.

The band feels equally at home locking horns with Explosions In The Sky and Mogwai as they would with Garcia Peoples. The feeling can often span a single song on the record, starting “IX.II” with sky scraping riffs that crest before burrowing into breakdowns that feel like they could stretch for miles on stage. The wind caresses the first half of the record, pushing through the longform fusions of “II” and “III.” The jazz impulses seize around track IV, but it all feels like part of the same sea-swept dream. It’s here that the interplay between Sørensen’s guitar and Clausen’s bass truly shine; a give and take that speaks to the years Papir has spent building trust in their tightwire.

Not content to just become known for noodling, the band is just as handy with ambience as interplay, and the back half of the record proves that texture is a weapon the band doesn’t wield lightly. Then, as if the piles of tapes that have gone into the first six tracks weren’t enough, the band closes out with 21+ minute cap off that would make Causa Sui jealous. I’ve truly been enjoying the prolific bounty of Edena Gardens these days, but it’s clear that Sørensen has saved plenty for Papir. The record finds them embracing their prime era and promising more to come.

Support the artist. Buy it HERE.