10/15 - 4th And B, San Diego, CA
10/17 - The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
10/19 - Fox Theater, Oakland, CA
10/21 - House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
10/22 - The Complex, Salt Lake City, UT
10/23 - The Marquee, Tempe, AZ
10/25 - Verizon Theatre, Grand Prairie, TX
10/26 - Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX
10/27 - Verizon Music Theater, Houston, TX
10/29 - Voodoo Festival, New Orleans, LA
10/30 - Moogfest, Asheville, NC
10/31 - The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
11/02 - The Pageant, St. Louis, MO
11/03 - Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL
11/05 - The Fillmore, Detroit, MI
11/06 - Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
11/08 - 9:30 Club, Washington DC
11/10 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY
That means two things. First, there will be no repeat of my radio show, so if you want to listen, you'll need to tune in on Sunday (that's 11pm ET on Sirius XMU). Like always, I'll be playing a ton of great new music (The Bear Quartet, Dear Euphoria, Pan Sonic, Haust, etc.). Secondly, updates here will probably be pretty sparse as I'll hopefully be off doing other things besides sitting in front of the computer. Thanks!
Hafdis Huld has the kind of voice that immediately evokes sugar, spice, and everything nice. One part Ali Howard (Lucky Soul), three parts summer of love; it's the kind of instrument that seems intent on landing her sophomore album "Synchronised swimmers" directly into schlock territory. Thankfully, Huld seems intent on playing against type, crafting indie folk that's as unexpectedly playful as it is sweet. From "Könguló"'s angular island beats to the understated banjo of "Action man", there's enough subtle variation to skirt syrup and assure that Huld is the real deal. Really.
Now if only she had something to say. While "slice of life" lyrics aren't inherently off-putting, (Hey, it's done wonders for Laura Marling) the troupe only works if you attach greater meaning. Or, any meaning. Instead of delving into what it's all about, we skim across the surface, getting dime-a-dozen realizations such as "It hurts to be happy" and "Everything is basic in a town like this, you get your picture in a paper if you catch a fish." Solid beginnings sure, but one wonders what a stronger lyricist could have made of them. Even the most interesting track "Robot robot" feels like a retread, playing like a thematic kissing cousin to The Dresden Dolls' "Coin operated boy". Rather than illuminate your life, Huld seems to have settled for shedding a few rays of sunshine into an afternoon. - Laura Studarus
Falling somewhere between the glacial soundscapes of Sigur Rós and cinematic musings of Jóhann Jóhannsson, Ólafur Arnalds creates small-scale, intimate creations meant for quiet contemplation. Not one to take the path of least resistance, and head straight for the obvious theme, Arnalds cleverly sculpts the nine mini-compositions of "...And they have escaped the weight of darkness" into understated gems, eschewing melodramatic excess and allowing them to slowly unravel over time. Opening with the barely there track "Þú ert sólin" and continuing with "Þú ert jörðinn", the first two songs act as a prelude to his dimly lit world, which finally explodes into fruition with "Tunglið", a piano-driven piece that builds to dizzying string and percussion-filled heights. The album's start for all practical purposes, it's well worth the wait.
While a stunningly mature modern-classical outing, it's album centerpiece "Hægt, kemur ljósið" that truly shows what Arnalds is truly capable of creating, and with any luck will act as a bridge to future work. Packed with an album's worth of emotional resonance, the track is a multi-movement gem, where Arnalds makes good on "...And they have escaped the weight of darkness"' promise, tenderly leading his listeners into a melancholy dawn. - Laura Studarus
Ja Ja Ja will be throwing a special Nordic showcase on May 14 for the occasion of London's Great Escape Festival featuring Susanne Sundfør, Jaakko & Jay and For a Minor Reflection. More details: http://www.jajajamusic.com/news.php?id=33
Other Scandinavian acts performing at this year's festival include Choir Of Young Believers, Erik Hassle, Simon Says No!, Ingrid Olava, Joensuu 1685, Megaphonic Thrift, Seabear, Vuk and possibly others, but I can't tell because their website is a piece of shit.
Hafdis Huld
Ólafur Arnalds
