...according to our Ant on Thu 03 Jun, 2010.
This Icelandic experimental pop band are apparently hugely successful in their native country and are being praised universally by critics worldwide. When this first started playing I couldn't really get my head around it. But it didn't take long for things to click into place. The band has seven members (oo-err) and they've even got a full orchestra on board. If I'm honest I'm not so keen on the male vocals but the female ones are very sweet. This sort of crosses the boundaries of soul, classical and pop with some experimental moments. Certainly a talented bunch of musicians playing away on drums, bass, piano, keyboard, guitar, bassoon and violin.
Hjaltalín are Iceland’s newest sensation. Their debut album 'Sleepdrunk Seasons', released to great acclaim in Iceland December 2007, was produced by Benni Hemm Hemm and Gunni Tynes of múm, and sold gold in Iceland. The album was released in the rest of Europe in late 2008 and early 2009 and received universally positive praise across the continent including in the UK The Guardian, Drowned in Sound, Plan B and The Sunday Times.In Iceland Hjaltalín have played with artist such Jens Lekman, Akron/Family, Danielson, Annuals and Bloc Party, and they have also toured outside of Iceland with Cold War Kids and fellow Icelanders múm. 2009 saw Hjaltalín touring constantly including playing festivals such as Latitute, Roskilde, Haldern Pop, Open'er, Truck, Slottsfjell and more. The band were also busy working on their sophomore album. Involving a full size orchestra they recorded in a old warehouse next to Reykjavík harbour and in Studio Hljóðriti, Iceland's oldest and most legendary studio,The new album,'Terminal', released to great acclaim in late 2009 in Iceland has already gone gold there and was voted best album by several critics including Iceland's biggest newspaper, Fréttablaðið. The album has been hailed, "a true masterpiece" and "the best Icelandic album in years". “They are that rare thing: a band who arrive unheralded, unknown, and ensnare you instantly.” - The Sunday Times “smile -inducing, cockle-warming, discovery-making” - Financial Times “A touch Arcade fire but more interesting, vocals are stunning, instrumentation is awesome. Joyous and gentle. Big colourful band to fall in love with. Soul, classical. Classoul.” - Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1 “This is playful, frisky music that sounds like an endless summer night among friends.” - Guardian "It feels like, for a moment, Hjaltalín are the best band you’ll ever see." Clashmusic.com
...according to Thomas.
Its like the Prefab Sprout of the 2010. Great stuff. This band has got the mojo and this cd is worth every penny. I am going to visit Iceland. It cant be they are only 300.000
Rating: 5 out of 5So, what do you think? Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!