Ahnstern
Knowing the reputation of Steinklang and the numerous smaller releases that have been released on that as well as the various side-labels, I at first thought this was a 7". It looked like one, and it had the weight of one, but I was wrong. The reason why this package is so heavy is because of the high quality paper which is used for the booklet. High quality paper for beautiful pictures with the best views over Iceland.
Audiowise, the album is just as dynamic as the pictures, or better yet, just as dynamic as Iceland itself. Vulcanic activities resemble the musical tension and the bright colours are just as contradictive as the used sounds. The green of the countryside versus the red of the puffin's beak, as well as the contrast between the snow and the midwinternight.
Three long tracks - 10, 12 and 16 minutes - and five shorter ones - all under 4 minutes - make this album what it is; A collection of stories about Iceland. The created atmosphere should be really strong, because the number of people who speak Icelandic aren't that numerous. And after several listenings that atmosphere begins to really develop, but mainly through means of the longer tracks as well as those with spoken word (or is it praying?).
This album is good. Not brilliant, but definitly worth it if Iceland is your favorite destination for holidays or if HOH, Sigur Ross, Current 93 and other mystical musick form a larger part of your collection.
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