Reykjavík Grapevine - 11.10.2013, Qupperneq 31

REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 7—2010 | 31
Album
Reviews
Emilíana Torrini
Steindór Andersen &
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Amiina
Tookah
2013
Made for the moment
Stafnbúi
2012
A masterful work by two of
Iceland’s most distinguished
musical forces. Listen to this;
you will be glad you did.
The Lighthouse Project
2013
‘The Lighthouse Project’
shines its light through a
mollifying soundscape.
Emilíana Torrini’s new album
‘Tookah’ is brimming with her
signature sound: quiet vocals,
smooth orchestrations, subtle
beats, guitar pickings, and romanticised
lyrics. But it also goes in new directions
that keep the album feeling current.
Fans of Emilíana will be comforted
by the familiar softness of songs like
“Caterpillar” and “Autumn Sun.” But that
familiarity seems bland when compared
to a standout track like “When Fever
Breaks.” At seven and a half minutes, it’s
an epic half-structured, half–improv song,
slowing building pressure over time. At
the brink of emotions, Emilíana intones
“desire is rage/ rage is desire” and “I
want to kill you with my fire.” The track,
although intense, could be pushed even
further. Would this fever break in a live
performance?
The most successful tracks on
‘Tookah’ are the ones with the catchy
hooks and dance beats, such as “Speed
of Dark” and “Blood Red.” Emilíana
recently experimented with synthesizers,
and it shows. “Speed” could be a club hit;
a remix would easily entice partygoers to
dance. Her simple and unadorned voice is
a great contrast to the processed drums
and synths, resulting in Kate Bush-meets-
Depeche Mode. There is a catchiness
recalling Emilíana’s earlier “Jungle Drum”
without the twee cuteness.
In “Speed of Dark,” there is a line:
“life is just a flicker in the universe.” And
that, in its essence, is the album. ‘Tookah’
is a collection of cool and sensual songs
made for the moment. Enjoy them now,
because in the grand scheme of the
universe, these songs are a flickering star.
The haunting collection
Stafnbúi opens like a hymn
from another time. And the
vibrantly beating heart of
it is of another time. This collection of
traditional rímur poetry and music from
Steindór Andersen and Hilmar Örn
Hilmarsson shakes the digital dust from
the ears and snaps the listener into a
world removed, vast and mysterious.
These 12 recordings, vocals from
Steindór and music by Hilmar, are a
history lesson in the most affecting way.
However, the significance and beauty of
a recording like this is it does not feel like
one. The arresting presence of Steindór’s
voice captivates one's attention the way
staring at a snowy sea does, simple but
deceivingly powerful. The longer you
stare, the deeper you are drawn in.
Hilmar’s music is an intrinsic and
intimate platform for Steindór. Its slow
undulations call to mind the Icelandic
landscape these poems originated from.
While the words are sung in Icelandic
the content is far from lost. Each piece is
performed with enough emotion to deftly
transcend the language barrier into an
experience in of itself. With this release
the bar has been raised for what to listen
to and why, and the world is a bit richer
for it.
'The Lighthouse Project'
carries the listener through
memories lost to us over time
with its incredibly warm and alluring
soundscapes. It tugs on the heartstrings
the same way that an old cherished photo
or a distant fond memory might—it's
forlorn, it's beautiful and it resonates on a
sentimental level.
‘The Lighthouse Project’ is
appropriately named, for it was created
with the idea of recapturing the
sound of live performances during a
2009 summer tour that had the band
performing in unusual locations, such
as in the Dalatangaviti lighthouse. The
instrumentals are handled astutely,
delicately dancing through songs, lightly
floating along impassioned melodies that
gleam in an almost lullabied demeanour,
creating an atmosphere of relaxation and
comfort, like nestling up beside a warm,
cosy fireplace hearth in mid-January.
It makes you want to close your eyes,
imagine you are standing on top of one
of these seaside beacons and gaze out
past the shore into vast blue waters,
contemplating the beauty of the world.
Whether it's the gentle wail of a
bow, a singing saw, the eerie whine of
a theramin, the casual jaunt from an
accordion or the soothing angelic hums,
‘The Lighthouse Project’ is an auditory
example of connecting a physical
presence to the music itself.
31
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Words
Nathan Hall
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Burke Jam
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Chris D'Alessandro
Music