Human Pyramids - Thank You

A Closer Listen

Sometimes after only a single play, we know that an album is destined for year-end status.  Thank You is positive, upbeat, ebullient and joyful, and includes more instruments than ever before.  Alumni of The Happiest Music of the Year, Human Pyramids have already reserved their spot.

The twelve-strong ensemble, anchored by composer Paul Russell, still pulls out all the stops.  Almost every track is a party, with generous servings of brass and strings.  Guitar, accordion, marimba, vibraphone and hammered dulcimer fill in the buffet.  The music’s propulsive energy keeps the spirts high; the opening track (titled “Shut Down,” since the music stops and restarts in the second half) eases the listener in with a slower tempo and sparser instrumentation, but by the end, it’s rocking; and first single “Full Bloom” is exactly what it promises, launching with cascades of drums, retreating to solo vibraphone, adding accordion and then going bonkers, with the full orchestra watering a delirious spring bouquet.  This being said, Russell knows how to reel it all back in, as the cascade retreats, revealing a peaceful finale.

The album sounds different if one starts in the center.  Life cannot sustain a high-speed pace, nor a diet of cupcakes and cannolis. “Breathe” draws the blinds, lowers the tempo, and shifts from joy to contentment.  Some discussion may have gone into making this the opening piece, although its current position raises its worth.  In the fast-paced world of Human Pyramids, there’s still time to take a break, to rehydrate, to breathe.  The back half of Thank You is often reflective, and gives the listener room to experience Human Pyramids as more than just a party band.  “Bright Grey,” which seems an oxymoron, slows the tempo while raising the density; the string breakdown is especially elegant, coasting all the way to the end.  “Glow” and “Static” yield a similar, peaceful feeling, the latter the finale proper.  These tracks contribute a welcome depth to the set.

The smiles widen again in the digital version, with the Japanese bonus track “Ice Skating.”  This mallet-happy piece sparkles like an outdoor rink under the noonday sun; we can’t imagine the album without it.  Four albums in, Human Pyramids has staked a claim as the happiest band in post-rock, and we quote their album title back to them:  thank you.  (Richard Allen)