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Release Info : After two full-lengths on Resonant, the much-lauded Stafraenn Hakon is about to step up proceedings with this, his first new material in two years - on the back of the success and acclaim that met the aforementioned "Skvettir Edik a Ref" (RESCD005 - Oct 2003) and "I Astaandi Rjupunnar" (RESCD006 - March 2004), both of which were 'old' albums deservedly seeing light of day for the first time beyond his native Iceland. Whereas those two were effectively home recordings using basic instruments and means, "Ventill/Poki" is the end result of a week in a studio in England with the help of fellow Resonant artist Dialect, using live bass and drums sounding like the product of a band rather than one guy. That said, crucially it retains the 'feel' of his previous work, and is more potent and powerful rather than allowing anything to get lost in the mix. Coming on like a hybrid of Labradford, Sigur Ros and Mogwai and finishing up with one of the finest bodies of work within the ambient/post-rock sub-genre in years, this album seems certain to elevate Olafur Josephsson's musical alias in the esteemed company of his most obvious peers in terms of status.
Reviews :
Last year's Hakon album, 'Skvettir Edik a Ref', was largely self-produced and played. Beautifully sedate, it combined cool ambient arrangements with warm guitar melodies. 'Ventill/Poki' is fleshed out with guest musicians on most tracks, and a bolder if more conventional sound. Fortunately Hakon's compositions are still masterful studies in layered arrangements, and while he now incorporates a full rhythm section, the frequently mesmerising, seamlessy interwoven combination of electronica and ambient guitar remains in place. Like fellow Icelanders Sigur Ros, Hakon does have a weakness for the epic, occasionally over-egging things with sumptuous layers of instrumentation. Elsewhere the solid drumming sometimes anchors the music too much. But when he gets the balance right, which is most of the time, this proves a worthy successor to his previous work. The Wire
There's plenty of new
music to listen out for this week and definitely worth a mention are the
stunning tracks from Iceland's Stafraenn Hakon. You might say that
Iceland has had its time as the in-place for musical coolness, but the
cold island is still the central hub for some of the best and most
interesting music around. The country's reputation was first brought in
to the mainstream by that devilish little pixie, Bjork. Since then
though, the experimental melody makers Sigur Ros have made a name for
themselves and their homeland, and its wild and rich landscape has been
sought for inspiration by artists such as Damon Albarn, Coldplay and San
Diego's Jimmy Lavalle. If you haven't heard of Lavalle, check out his
hauntingly beautiful album In A Safe Place, recorded under the artist
name, The Album Leaf. Music Choice
A pair of years pass away and Stafraenn Hakon comes to the fore with Ventill/Poki, an effort to trail after the meticulously crafted solo piece Skvettir Edik A Ref which, with its gossamer threads of guitar melodies slumbering in a soft bed of resonant drones, chiming pianos set behind a fine gauze of purring digital, and breathy sighs reconstructed with the simple glee of a child taking apart a clock, perched Stafraenn Hakon alongside Labradford and fellow Icelanders Sigur Ros. While the birthmark of Skvettir Edik A Ref was the amateur charm coiled in its heart by way of lo-fi production techniques and the fact that Hakon handled an array of instruments without being necessarily familiar with their conventional use, from the onset of Ventill/Poki the presence of a mature group of musicians is found. Hakon adopts the help of others so as to fill these ten compositions with cello, trombone and drums. Bucolic guitars still draw melodic threads through the readily accommodating percussive fabrics, providing a sturdy core marked by the cyclical repetition of post-rock, while starry-eyed iridescent textures evolve overtop, intensifying the tracks coloration. Hakon weaves muffled electronics with stately organic sound sources much in the vein of Labradford. His efforts, however, are imbued with an alluring, wide-eyed sense of wonder as compositions such as 'kjammi', with wobbling guitar arpeggio and plangent chimes, giving unto a celebratory zenith that reminds of the grandeur of Sigur Ros. Similar to Sigur Ros, these selections do veer a trifle close to new age realms, and, what's more, the aquatic keyboard patterns and waltzing guitars do at moments reveal something of a family resemblance; yet a varying of pace as found in the more insidious and perturbed ambience of 'kvos', as well as a lovely interplay between scuttling drum-programming and the more boisterous real drums, imbue this work with minute details that, coupled with Hakon's deft ability to consistently forge beguiling melodies, all but promises supple rewards for those willing to lend an ear. Cyclicdefrost.com
After two massively respected full-lengths on Resonant, the much-lauded Stafraenn Hakon is about to step up a gear or two. Ventil / Poki features Stafraenn’s first new material in two years - on the back of the success and acclaim that met the aforementioned "Skvettir Edik a Ref" and "I Astaandi Rjupunnar", both of which were old albums deservedly seeing light of day for the first time beyond his native Iceland. Whereas those two were effectively home recordings using basic instruments and means, "Ventill/Poki" is the end result of a week in a studio in England with the help of fellow Resonant artist Dialect, using live bass and drums sounding like the product of a band rather than one guy. That said, it retains the feel of his previous work, and shimmers along similar territory to Sigur Ros and Ulrich Schnauss – quietly euphoric and unashamedly romantic. Recommended. Boomkat.com
Well it says right on the shrinkwrap sticker that this is "mellow, instrumental post-rock so freaking lovely...Sigur Ros move over". Hmm, can't really argue with that since it's quote from the Aquarius review of one of this Icelandic one-man-band's other albums! He's now back with his third Resonant label full-length, and if you liked the gentle sounds made previously by Stafraenn Hakon (aka Olafur Josephsson) you'll undoubtedly swoon for this disc as well, especially if you thought his music should be even more sweet and lush and blissful, 'cause that's where he's going with this. But there's a certain sadness inherent in his compositions that keeps them from ever getting too treacle-y. Gauzy ambient shimmer melts over organic instruments and some shuffling, vaguely glitchy electronic beats, as this album-length lullaby drifts by, pleasant and glorious. Though it may seem like this artist has cranked out a lot of releases lately, this is actually his first 'new' material recorded in two years! We're glad to see he's still in top form. Aquarius
Fans of the late Mogwai
and Sigur Ros albums are in for a treat. Recommended by a random person
I met at Crash Records, this album is a must have for any post rock fans
wish list. Leeds Music Scene
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