Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum End [LP] [LP]

Spin (p.111) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[S]wapping ethereal splendor for tighter songcraft....The group's dynamic new sound surges with rapid-fire la la las." CMJ - "Their signature joyous orchestrations and epic crescendos are still intact..." Q (Magazine) (p.106) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[They] give each track its own distinct character. Thus we've two three-minute 'pop songs', acoustic folk, a soaring rock ballad and the tree-thumping Ewok-techno madness that is 'Gobbledegook'..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.103) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "There's still some beautifully glacial music....But now, occasionally, the Arctic exploration party becomes simply a party. The opening 'Gobbledigook' is almost acoustic happy hardcore..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.72) - Ranked #17 in Mojo's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2008" -- "[R]esonating with a celestial majesty." Paste (magazine) (p.68) - "[T]he group colors outside of well-established lines this time around, pounding on tribal drums during 'Gobbledigook,' smearing swaths of mellotron across 'Fljotavik' and 'Straumnes,' and pulling back on its patented reverb in favor of crisp, clean lines." Pitchfork (Website) - "[T]hey deliver plenty of moments where they sound more spirited, looser, almost playful."

いまやアイスランドの国民的バンドとして君臨する彼らの5作目。故郷を離れ、世界各地でレコーディングを行った楽曲の数々は、どこか遠くで鳴り響いていたようなこれまでの孤高な世界から、少しばかりこちら側に歩み寄った優しい感触で溢れている。アコギと野蛮な変拍子リズムで始まり、総勢90名が参加した重厚な音響詩まで、歓喜に満ちた新たなステップはまだ見ぬ美しさへの大冒険。さあ、裸で駆け出そうではないか!
bounce (C)久保 正樹