Review Summary: Papir meets Hammock...
Papir is one of those bands that keeps pushing boundaries, always searching for new sounds to expand upon. As expected,
7 finds the Danish psychedelic rock trio resuming their journey towards blissful sonic plateaus. This latest LP owes considerably to the softer side of 2017’s gorgeous epic
V, acting as a starting point. Each effort allowed more room for instruments to breathe, as the band adopted the less is more tactic. At the same time, the jazzy and stoner influences were gently put in the background during the past few years, further diminishing the chance to repeat themselves.
The opening odyssey, ‘7.1’ is definitely the centerpiece, carefully unfolding over its 19-minute span. Post rock aesthetics seem to be the latest ambition for Papir, building up a dense atmosphere through effects-laden chords. The drums and bass act as an anchor for them, despite wandering on their own as well. One would expect riffs to appear, however, the guys steered clear of them. Instead, the track gradually slows down, giving way to a droning synth and beautiful guitar leads. These meander for minutes on end, until sweet melodies start blooming over them. The relaxing nature of all the careful embellishments make for a refreshing listen. Meanwhile, ‘7.2’ follows with a bass groove that grows into a more active section. The smooth, intertwining progressions maintain the overall breeziness with the greatest of ease. Then, ‘7.3’ reaches into ambient territory, reminiscing a soundtrack to a meditation or lazy mornings in bed. Layers of soft guitars and effects caress you with sugar sweet sonic beauty. Soon after,
7 comes to an end with the 4th part and its tom-oriented drumming, calm bass lines and lush solos. It’s essentially a continuation of the explored territories, complete with bits of everything you’ve heard so far. However, there is a lovely, comforting feeling in all the presented ideas. Sure, some harder hitting segments would have definitely enhanced the dynamics, especially for long time fans. Nevertheless, they are not mandatory, as Papir crafted such a delightful and soothing record.
