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Iceland has a pretty decent track record when it comes to their musical exports; the isolated nation being home to the likes of Bjork and Sigur Ros. The country’s latest big export is Ásgeir Trausti Einarsson, or Ásgeir as he is now more commonly known.
His debut album Dýrð í Dauðaþögn was released in his native Iceland in 2012, earning him record-breaking sales and turning him into a household name – with an astounding one in ten people in Iceland owning the record. The album has now been released (or re-released) to a wider audience as In the Silence with the album’s songs translated into English by Reykjavik resident John Grant.
Simply put In the Silence is a beautiful haunting and contemplative record. A deft blend of folksy whimsy and electro infused bombast; that brings to mind the likes of Justin Vernon and Bon Iver. There is an almost melancholic tinge to the album, thanks in part to Ásgeir’s emotive and plaintive vocals.
It is impossible to listen to this record without conjuring up images of glaciers and fjords. There is such a definite and irrevocable sense of place In the Silence, with it’s many nods to the harsh remoteness of Iceland’s countryside, fjords and all. The soundscapes that Ásgeir creates reflect their lyrics, none more so than in ‘Torrent’ which creates for me such vivid images of cascading ice water. Likewise there is a beautiful airiness and calmness to the instrumentation and the vocal delivery.
There is also a real sense of cohesion to the record, a consistency in the style and direction of the songs. Whilst some will no doubt bemoan a lack of variation, I personally like the fact that each of the songs sound like they actually belong on the same album. That’s not to say that every song sounds the same, there are shifts within the album, certainly the album seems to gather force as it progresses, with the second half of the record, for the most part, becoming more brassy and raucous than the earlier songs.
‘Torrent’ and ‘King and Cross’ are probably my favourite songs from the record, with ‘Torrent’ in particular, with its sweeping and atmospheric soundscape, one of the albums highlights. Whilst ‘King and Cross’ showcases a great pop sensibility, with poetic lyrics delivered above an addictive electronic undercurrent. ‘Summer Guest’ is another personal favourite, with its beautiful imagery and delicate guitar picking.
In the Silence is an attractive and compelling debut record full of beautiful imagery and rousing instrumentation. With its attractive melodies and Ásgeir’s arresting vocals it comes as no surprise that the record has proved so popular in Iceland.
Review Score: 8.6 out of 10 Image may be NSFW.
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In The Silence is out now. Ásgeir will tour Australia for Splendour.
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