Reykjavík Grapevine - 29.08.2014, Blaðsíða 31

Reykjavík Grapevine - 29.08.2014, Blaðsíða 31
Experience real Icelandic cuisine Bankastræti 2, 101 Reykjavík Tel: (+354) 551 4430 info@laekjarbrekka.is www.laekjarbrekka.is vurl.is/i/laekjarbrekka Let’s be friends! The only kitchen in Reykjavík open to 23:30 on weekdays and 01:00 on weekends Vesturgata 3B | 101 Reykjavík | Tel: 551 2344 | www.tapas.is RESTAURANT- BAR Taste the best of Iceland ... .. in one amazing meal Icelandic Gourmet FEAst 6.690 kr. Starts with a shot of the infamous Icelandic spirit Brennívín Followed by 7 delicious tapas: Smoked puffin with blueberry “brennivín” sauce Icelandic sea-trout with peppers-salsa Lobster tails baked in garlic Pan-fried line caught blue ling with lobster-sauce Grilled Icelandic lamb Samfaina Minke Whale with cranberry & malt-sauce White chocolate "Skyr" mousse with passion fruit coulis 31The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 13 2014 MUSIC Album Reviews Prins Póló – Sorrí Monotown, In the Eye of the Storm 2014 www.prinspolo.com Prins Póló continues to amuse and confuse Recrods Records 2014 www.monotownmusic.com A valiant folk-rock effort falls a bit short Prins Póló, the essentially one-man- band project of Svavar Pétur Eysteinsson (Skakkamanage), has a new album out titled 'Sorrí.' I’m not sure what the “Sorry” is about, but perhaps it’s an ironic middle finger to those who might not like this very eclectic album. 'Sorrí' is a bit of an insider’s album that will likely be more amusing to Icelanders than foreigners. For starters, it’s all in Icelandic, and the melodies flow quickly. It also shows off clever Icelandic rhyme schemes. Prins Póló rhymes words that an English-language native would never dream of, like “sjarma” (“charm”) and “shawarma” (the meat preparation, of course). There’s even wordplay within lines, like the homophones “sígur” and “sýgur” in “Föstudagsmessa” (“Friday Mass”) that create the phrase “the floor is sinking, the music sucks.” I get the feeling that 'Sorrí' is mostly a lot of nonsense, like the lyric in “Bragðarefir”: “If I tell you I have never tasted better lasagne/come now to the dance party.” Prins Póló’s song titles translate to “I’m Coming With The Cream,” “The Beautiful Carpenter,” and the best, “Hamster Charm.” Half of the album is a house party soundtrack, and there’s some quasi-rapping in there too. But the other half showcases brooding synths and more thoughtful lyrics like “the sun sets down for the last time” and “I’m ringing the bells to an ancient paradise.” The production value of the album is also a little strange. Some songs seem quite lo-fi, with Svavar’s guitar and his voice as nearly the only instruments. Yet, other songs seem ironically overproduced, aiming for Britney Spears glitz while relying only on a Casio keyboard. Icelanders will recognize these retro sound references from the nation’s early punk and pop bands, though foreigners might think it’s just one of those wacky quirks about Icelandic music. Despite all the irreverence, several songs on 'Sorrí' will stand out to even a non-Icelandic speaker, thanks to their catchy rhythmic phrases, infectious hooks, and hummable choruses. And once you can dig into the texts about meeting an old man at the hospital, or comparing someone to a sexy polar bear, or a carpenter riding away on a horse... well, you’ll still be confused, but some of those lyrics make for pretty good tunes. - NATHAN HALL The trio of musicians in Monotown (two of them brothers) released their first album, 'In The Eye Of The Storm,' this year. The album is a mix of folk harmonies, rock ballads, and up-tempo tracks. The title song is one of the most memorable on the recording, beginning with a Grizzly Bear-like arrangement of strings and layered harmonies, which pauses to transform into a more traditional rock number with warm electronics in the background. Sadly the close of the first track is where most of the excitement leaves. The album’s lyrics strive for simplicity, but end up with clichés: “my conscience stings me like a paper cut” cuts the deepest. The chorus of “I See” feels juvenile: “Give me love into my bed/from my toes unto my head/please don’t take long ‘cause soon I’m dead.” One of the great things about the English language is how easy it is to make words into lyrics. But it’s quite difficult to find words that, when they fit together, have an energy all their own. You’ll hear the most character in Monotown’s more driving songs. “Two Bullets” could be the soundtrack for a thriller, and “No More Shall I Fear You” combines the guitar effects of spaghetti western films (think Clint Eastwood) with the fast bass lines and bends and slides of surf rock. But on sparser tracks, the same stylistic traits seem out of place, like a surfboard propped up in the background of an Appalachian band's photo shoot. As an album, 'In the Eye of the Storm' is beautifully arranged and mixed; amidst the band are background vocals and symphonic sprinklings, and these additions keep the songs alive. After touring, performing, and promoting, Monotown could produce a sophomore recording that tightens up loose lyrical threads, gives room for experimentation, and blossoms into a great record. - NATHAN HALL
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