RECOMMENDED

Efterklang’s juggling of experimental electronics, pop and post-rock has made for three solid records, most recently “Magic Chairs,” the Denmark group’s first for 4AD. The collective manages to avoid Animal Collective joylessness while maintaining many of the same musical elements; quite simply, Efterklang is just prettier, and it goes down easier. Lead track “Modern Drift,” with its heavenly and incessant dueling piano parts, could’ve been a straight-up dance track (and it would’ve worked), but the band shows restraint and pulls the elements into one tight pop force, a remarkable decision and a bold way to begin a record. The rest of the record may not reach the height of its opening song—”Alike” sounds like a phoned-in Peter Gabriel, and “I Was Playing Drums” is so melodically misguided you’d think it was a different band entirely—but that’s a minor complaint for a band that’s not quite great, but oddly admirable. Plus, live, Efterklang has ten thousand people on stage, so you’ll have something to look at as well. (Tom Lynch)

March 8 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln, (773)525-2508, at 9pm. $12.