Power Pose is exemplified by the first song on its tracklist, 4000 Miles. A triumphant, blazing effigy of glockenspiel, brass and saxophones, it is four minutes of distilled sunshine that gradually builds into joyful climax. And just like that, you’re fully immersed in a new Human Pyramids album.
HPs’ greatest asset (in this humble writer’s view) is their joyful attitude to instrumental arrangement – every shimmering clarinet line, buzzing horn swell and glimmering glockenspiel hit feels like the product of exquisite craft and attention, as well as incredible musicianship. It’s a rare group that can muster such a broad instrumental palette (is that a dulcimer in ‘Treacle’?) – and they deftly weave a host of organic and electronic timbres together from technicolour track to another.
None of this is too much of a shock to those who have been following Human Pyramids all along – Power Pose is the delicious dessert from a three-course meal of brilliant albums by the Glasgow-based supergroup lead by Paul Russell. Its members are a who’s who of Scottish music, incorporating thrilling math-rockers Axes, personal favourites Admiral Fallow, dub group Suicide Bid, the Scottish Ballet and Falkirk-based Klezmer street band Puff Uproar.
Power Pose is joyful, endearing and thrilling all at once – the sound of a warm fire on a cold Scottish night.
Power Pose releases on December 25th (How about a boxing day gift to yourself? You probably deserve it) on Three Mile Records.