This album is perfect to cocoon with on an iPod. I am in love with this album. Even though comparisons are often NOT what rocks my boat; the next review kind of sums up everything I would have told you anyways, so lemme copy/paste.



http://www.allmusic.com/c...fuxzt5ld6e

Review by François Couture

Icelandic producer Valgeir Sigurðsson is best known for his work for other artists (Björk and Bonnie "Prince" Billy, mostly), so it actually comes as no surprise that his solo debut...comes as a surprise. It is a "producer's record," in that Sigurðsson called in favors across the board (although, no, Björk is not part of the adventure), lining up a revolving cast of musicians and three singers: Billy, Faun Fables' Dawn McCarthy, and Machine Translations' J. Walker.

However, despite all the diversity among constituent parts, the whole remains surprisingly -- that word again -- consistent. In fact, listening to Ekvilibrium helps you pinpoint and sum up what Sigurðsson brings to other people's records. This debut features quiet electro-acoustic folk pieces made of delicate electronic textures, lushly scored acoustic instruments (lots of strings, subdued piano courtesy of Nico Muhly, occasional brass instruments), and a dreamy feel.

In other words: simple compositions developing through complex arrangements. Ekvilibrium contains ten tracks, including four songs and six instrumentals. The album begins with one of KTU's Samuli Kosminen's rough-edged beats ("A Symmetry"), followed by the first song, "Evolution of Waters," the first of two tracks penned by Sigurðsson and Will Oldham.

The first half of the album follows a general curve toward the orchestral peak of "Winter Sleep," featuring a ten-piece ensemble and a gripping vocal delivery from Dawn McCarthy. After that, things boil down toward "Kin," Billy's second song. If the songs are more immediately grasped, the instrumentals also provide their fair share of highlights. Highly recommended to fans of post-rock and modern folk.
[Edited 3/25/08 10:44am]
[Edited 3/25/08 10:46am]

If I had stumbled upon this in the year it was released, it would have made my top 5 of 2007.

wheres my vigor scatshugaggen evenhaggen thread

No one heard of this album?

Not yet

Martinelli said:

Oh if only you had MSN...



You are afraid of me!

young man..online file sharing is illegal..

Martinelli said:

Music, sure, but I want to send you naked pics of myself.

Liar. u got my e male.

Martinelli said:

I do?

sounds delicious!

HamsterHuey said:

no? hmmm. i remember reading a year ago that she was going to have a song on there.

Raze said:

Maybe something happened, ayedunno. She ain't on the official release.

endorphin74 said:

Yer talking about the review, right, not the album?

You're just hipping me to yummy things left and right. Gonna go hunting...

GangstaFam said:

I am pumping A Symmetry out of the speakers right now. So loud, the glass in the windows is vibrating.

You will love the Vespertine overtones of this song. It went straight onto my Pure playlist while I was listening to it for the first time.

HamsterHuey said:

It is now the opener of Pure AND my latest project...

This looks deelicious ~ thank you hamstey

Welcome!