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Release Info :
MUCH-ANTICIPATED second UK release from Stafraenn Hakon, following the success of "Skvettir Edik A Ref" in Autumn 2003 - an album that stood out and received unanimous acclaim purely on the strength of the music, which makes it a rare phenomenon in the current climate. Key to this was the inclusion of a track on the 10th Wire Tapper covermount - this alone prompted several emails to the label from many countries. Though this is his second UK full-length, "I Astandi Rjpunnar" was actually recorded and self-released in Iceland before "Skvettir...", so this was originally his debut album in effect. Musically, the two albums inhabit the same territory - glacial, widescreen post-rock soundscapes, at once emotive, engaging and affecting - but if anything the music herein is more organic and mellow than on "Skvettir Edik A Ref". SUPPORTERS of the first Stafraenn/Resonant release were numerous and widespread, including: The Wire, Comes With a Smile, SBN radio, XFM Dublin (who selected "Kofi" from "Skvettir..." as one of their favourite tracks of 2003), Brainwashed.com, Dusted (America) (who've selected SH as one of their 10 'Destined' artists to watch in 2004) - expect this release to elevate things to the next level…
Tracklisting :
1. Solution (8:41)
2. Iodine (10:15) 3. Hviti Hakarlinn (7:50) 4. Hvarf (5:36) 5. Afglapi (9:59) 6. Vofa (5:13) 7. Kul (3:44) 8. Skortur (4:17) 9. Bref (16:49)
Reviews : Much anticipated and really rather gorgeous second UK release from Stafraenn Hakon, following the success of "Skvettir Edik A Ref" released last year . Though this is his second UK full-length, "I Astandi Rjpunnar" was actually recorded and self-released in Iceland before "Skvettir...", so this was originally his debut album. Musically, the two albums inhabit the same territory - glacial, widescreen post-rock soundscapes, at once emotive, engaging and affecting - but if anything the music herein is more organic and mellow than on "Skvettir Edik A Ref". An infusion of drifting acoustic instrumentation and electronic underlays, Stafraenn’s epic glides through textures and soundscaping emerge through hugely widescreen cinemascope and an emotive understanding that fans of Sigur Ros and Mogwai’s recent work will adore. Highly Recommended. Boomkat.com If you're Icelandic, you're probably already aware of Olafur Josephsson's project, as his career got a large boost by opening for godspeed you black emperor! last month in Reykjavik. His "band" name translates as Digital Hakon (Hakon the Good was the king of Norway in the 10th century and has a long legacy of being name checked in numerous songs) and the music is probably the most amazingly produced CD-Rs I have ever received. A heaping serving of patience is needed as the disc opens with a gentle 8 1/2 minute piece of soft drones and sparse guitar. Over the course of nearly an hour, the music crescendos slowly, slowly, slowly. Various other instruments are added, numerous differently treated guitar sounds, un-dominating beats and rhythms, bass, long-stretched keyboard synth string sounds, pianos, and bell-like chiming things (xylophones, wind chimes or keyboard sounds, it's hard to tell what's real these days). Unfortunately, as is the seeming downfall of everything I'm writing about this week, there are a number of derivative elements. Sampled tirades of Jesus freaks has almost been done to death by godspeed, swirling guitar melodies echo those from the Aerial M record and chord progressions I'm hearing are strikingly similar to those overused by Mogwai and their imitators. These aren't bad things to emulate by a long shot. If anything, more music needs to be this patient and delicate. Josephsson, however, seems like a very intuitive man, tactfully issuing this disc only as a CD-R, giving out a number of songs for free on his website. In essence, he's made a silent statement that he's here, he's busy, but things are not quite ready just yet for a mega-super world dominating release. Pay attention to him, however, as things will happen. You can quote me on that. In the meantime, lend him an ear and I'm sure he won't let you down. BrainwashedJust try whispering that title at the counter of your local Woolworths. The creation of Olafur Josephsson - here undercover as Stafrann Hakon - I Astandi Rjupunnar is the second re-issue of material previously only available in his Icelandic homeland. Amongst the most mesmeric instrumental moments not conceived by Mogwai, this music is filled with gentle strings, tumbling piano, glacial drifts and occasionally staggered samples that together fairly glide across the speakers, like a muffled Sigur Ros quivering beneath the guiding hand of Brian Eno. In more ways than one, I Astandi Rjupunnar is the stuff of dreams. Perhaps thats something translatable down Woolworths after all then. Logo Magazine
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