One of the most beautiful songs taken from Radiohead's seminal album Amnesiac is undoubtedly ‘Pyramid Song’, the highlight of their 2001 release.
This anthem from Thom Yorke and co, alongside the entirety of Amnesiac, received the Echo Collective treatment earlier this year. The songs were rearranged and recorded in the style of the Brussels-based chamber band for their Echo Collective Plays Amnesiac record, released by 7K! recordings in March 2018, and featuring cover art by acclaimed South African artist Roger Ballen.
Following the illustrated video for previous single ‘I Might Be Wrong’, the new video for ‘Pyramid Song’—perhaps the piece most representative of this entire body of Echo Collective work—is now available on Youtube.
The new video, directed by Peter Deckers and Judith Dekker, combines live images of Echo Collective’s recent concert at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, with scenes of movement and environment, resulting in an obscure, fascinating and mysterious piece.
Even without Yorke’s signature voice, this special version of ‘Pyramid Song’ manages to climb to high emotional peaks, replacing vocals with baritone sax and contra bassoon accompanied by a string trio, piano, and percussion. It's typical of the style of this accomplished ensemble who over the years have accompanied (both live and in the studio) the late composer Johann Johannson, Erasure, Joep Beving, Dustin O’Halloran, A Winged Victory For The Sullen, Maps, and many others.
Already receiving plays on BBC 6Music from Mary Anne Hobbs, this post-classical version of ‘Pyramid Song’ is earning its place as an anthem for the fervent musical underground that's rapidly growing around the rediscovery of classical music, and its most innovative, refined and yet accessible strains.
Upcoming Live shows:
- 03.10.18 - Hamburg DE - Elbphilharmonie - Echo Collective plays 'Amnesiac'
- 09.11.18 - Hasselt BE - CC Hasselt - Echo Collective plays 'Amnesiac'
- 16.02.19 - Tongeren BE - De Velinx - Echo Collective plays 'Amnesiac'
- 27.03.19 - Antwerp BE - Arenberg Schouwburg - Echo Collective plays Amnesiac'