Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.04.2012, Blaðsíða 25

25
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 4 — 2012
“We tried this place
purely on the back
of its excellent
review on
Tripadvisor
and weren’t
disappointed. “ CAFE HAITI by the Old Harbour
Geirsgata 7b, 101 Reykjavík
tel: 661 5621 / 588 8484
Opening hours: 8.00 – 23.00
Quality coffee roasted on the premises
tel. 578 8555www.gamlasmidjan.is Lækjargata 8
Opening hours:
mon-thu 11-23
fri 11-06
sat 12-06
& sun 12-23
Heavenly pizzas!
Home delivery
See our menu at www.gamlasmidjan.is
It isn’t that Benni Hemm Hemm (Bene-
dikt H. Hermannsson and his gang
of musicians) aren’t talented. It isn’t
that their gentle horn and guitar-filled
songs don’t resonate with enough
grace to make one temporarily forget
the agony of daily life. And I’d certainly
like to believe it isn’t that I’m complete-
ly heartless. It’s just that…well…what
else have you got? Falling lockstep
into their previous four releases, Benni
Hemm Hemm (the man) has delivered
another beautiful (and very predict-
able) ten-song cycle.
Even the admirable energy of
showstopper ‘Þú mátt aldrei detta’
can’t hide the fact that this ain’t our
first time at the rodeo—we’ve seen this
song-structure before. Repeatedly,
minimal openers blossom into guitar
and horn filled choruses. It’s almost as
if during the writing process, Benedikt
scribbled down a series of crescendos
and then went out for a beer—assured
his superior command of melody
would carry them through. It does, at
least partially. ‘FF ekki CC’ is about as
pretty as they come, guitars taking on
a light tropical bent. ‘Tenant’ is even
saved by formula, its barely-there
opening resuscitated by strings and
shimmering percussion. It’s difficult
to argue with the sensitivity of the
band’s execution, as ultimately Benni
Hemm Hemm brings us a well-crafted
seven-course meal. It would be nice,
however, to know that they could also
deliver a burger and fries.
- LAURA STUDARUS
Þórir Georg’s second solo album under
his own name displays both ends of
Þórir’s increasingly diverse and ex-
panding musical palette as he ventures
off into his own bleak world.
In reality, ‘Janúar’ is actually two
separate albums living in a single
entity. The first album, ‘Janúar,’ is the
structured, conscious piece, contain-
ing songs of feedback infused power
and melody. Tracks such as “Ekki
neitt,” with a simple drum machine
rhythm, growling guitars and bleached
out vocals are eerily reminiscent of the
solo work that Curver did back in the
early '90s.
The second album, which we shall
call ‘Untitled,’ is the subconscious side
which is shorter, more mysterious.
Faint whiffs of formless sound mix with
luminescent pools of guitar noise and
soft drones. More like a half remem-
bered memory than your standard
music fare.
Both these “albums” are kept sepa-
rate and distinct with the shift between
the two abrupt and sometimes jarring,
although on a couple of occasions,
they begin to bleed into each other,
such as on the intro to “Helst.” The
impression on listening to the record is
that of clashing emotions and seasons,
of warm sunlight and grey gloom.
His album is currently available to buy
at Gogoyoko. You could download it
for free from the pbp punk website.
But personally I think you should buy
this record, as it’s a finely honed piece
of lo-fi music that shows the pretend-
ers how it’s done.
- BOB CLUNESS
Benni Hemm Hemm Þórir
Skot
www.bennihemmhemm.com
Janúar
myspace.com/muckiceland
Same Old Charm Bi-Polar Lo-Fi
ALBUM RATING MADNESS !
READ FULL REVIEWS + MORE ON WWW.GRAPEVINE.IS
Song For Wendy – Meeting Point
“There’s one pretty good song
on here.”
Sindri Eldon
Rúnar Þórisson – Fall
“Passes by pleasantly enough,
but it’s hardly an earth shatter-
ing experience.”
Valur Gunnarsson
S ND Y p RL RS – Bring Death To S
ND Y P RL RS
“Sleepy sincerity.”
Laura Studarus
Elephant poetry – Thrash Can
Honey
“‘Trash Can Honey’ isn’t the
worst thing I’ve heard this week,
but it’s nowhere near as clever or
insightful as it thinks it is.”
Bob Cluness
Ruddinn – I Need A Vacation
“Definitely Ruddinn’s best album
so far.” Wim Van Hooste
Helgi Jónsson – Big Spring
“A classic lesson in dreariness.”
Bob Cluness
Reykjavík! – Locust Sounds
“The Reykjavík! cocktail this win-
ter is a mixed mélange of soft
and sweet alcohol, with a heavy
crème fraiche topping. Not
healthy, but delicious.”
Wim Van Hooste

Gímaldin And Friends - ‘Þú ert ekki
sá sem ég valdi’
“Creative by design.”
Valur Gunnarsson
grapevine.isgrapevine.isgr i .i