Iceland review - 2015, Page 12

10 ICELAND REVIEW
mUSiC
THREE OF
THE BEST
Edward Hancox picks three highlights among
Icelandic album releases in 2014.
It had been four whole years since Rökkurró’s last album, Í annan heim, which found the
band a wider audience for their melodic semi-acoustic loveliness. Rökkurró eventually
returned with Innra, after nearly a year of much teasing; including releasing singles such
as the sublime ‘killing Time,’ limited edition releases and numerous photos of the band
eating ice cream. It was worth waiting for though; Innra has a more electronic sound
than previous incarnations, and the band’s sound is much bigger generally, but Hildur’s
sweet-yet-powerful-voice soars above the extra synths. a clear highlight is ‘White
Mountain,’ a song inspired by television series Game of Thrones. *
This has been a year of live music in Iceland with Summer Solstice, ATP Iceland and the
evergreen Iceland Airwaves showcasing the very best of domestic and international art-
ists. Icelanders have stolen a march on the global music scene too; Samaris played seem-
ingly every country, Ásgeir continued the success of his In the Silence sophomore album
and Ólafur Arnalds grabbed a BAFTA for his Broadchurch soundtrack. With Icelandic
heavyweights Sigur Rós, Björk and Of Monsters and Men having a fallow year, the stage
was wide open for some great new Icelandic music. We weren’t disappointed either.
Rökkurró – Innra
Despite being labeled “only a project,” kiasmos have produced one of the best albums
of the year. a partnership between BaFTa award-winning composer and workaholic
Ólafur arnalds and Faroese electronic musician and sometime member of Bloodgroup,
Janus Rasmussen, kiasmos produce experimental, intelligent dance music with Ólafur’s
neoclassical trademarks never too far away. ‘Thrown’ is a slow-building piece, whilst the
ambient piano start of ‘looped’ breaks out into something much more urgent. This is
thrilling stuff, probably aided by the freedom of being ‘only a project’ and away from the
heavy weight of expectation. *
kiasmos – Kiasmos
Innhverfi is apparently a play on the Icelandic words for ‘introvert’ and ‘suburbs,’ and
you can immediately see why. Óbó, actually Ólafur Björn Ólafsson, is very much an
introvert: there’s nothing showy about this album. This is a quiet, often dark affair that
has been released without fanfare. It’s a shame, as Óbó has put together a collection of
seven intriguing, off-kilter vignettes. Some are murky, intimidating slow burners, such
as opener ‘Úthverfi,’ and others are wonderful instrumentals such as ‘Stilla.’ But the best
feature is Óbó himself, with his gruff baritone—especially on the Sparklehorse-esque
‘Rétt eða rangt’ and the violin-accompanied last track, ‘Gullregn.’ Óbó has worked
with Sigur Rós, Jónsi, Emilíana Torrini, slowblow, Benni Hemm Hemm, múm, Jóhann
Jóhannsson, Úlfur Hansson and Valgeir Sigurðsson. Innhverfi is all his own. *
Óbó – Innhverfi