Following critical acclaim in Iceland, Asgeir translated his entire album, In The Silence, and re-recorded it in English. For his debut record, he has created a beautiful collection of songs that melt together from one track to the next. Easy listening, the whole album is a beautiful synergy of folk and electronica sounds that transcends language and could be enjoyed just the same in either tongue. A mostly smooth falsetto tone is complimented by the fusion of acoustic folk guitar and smooth electronic sounds that is cut sharply against a husky drop in vocals to bring your ears back to down to earth.
The album opens with ‘Higher’, a blended track that alludes to the pointed emotional feel of the album as a whole. The lyrics remain metaphorical and non-specific throughout, leaving the meaning of each line open to the interpretation of the individual listener and their personal experience with each play through.
Having been co-written by Asgeir and his father, the lyrics are dripping with heartache and the pains of growing up and growing old in a world that often moves too fast. The track ‘Head In The Snow’ talks to an audience reflective of Asgeir’s age – in a world that at 21, we feel as though “People waste their time with triviality” and the best advice is sometimes to just “hide your head in the snow”. The headspace of this particular track is perpetuated by the repetition in the chorus and the short sentence structure of each line.
More a collection of emotions and sounds, this enchanting album is somehow too easy to listen too – often finishing before you realise that one track has skipped on to the next. Asgeir’s pop vibe, folk feel and electronic sound is a fusion to be reckoned with and I cannot wait for more.
8/10
Reviewer: Marley Tinnock