Hjaltalin – Terminal 3
Hjaltalin – Terminal 3
8/10
Hjatalin are from Reykjavik. I don’t know what it is about Iceland, maybe the long winter nights help throw up some of the most innovative and eclectic artists out there. It’s difficult to even try to describe the sound that this seven-piece create, as every track is a new experience. Some feel like showtunes while others are a wild cacophony of sound. Normally I steer well clear of the more complex orchestral incarnations out there, but this is something else.
Besides the regular guitar, bass & drums, the band also consists of piano, bassoon and violin. All this creates a rich sound that warms you and pulls you into the darker elements that abound on this album. Alongside those atmospheric outings are some pretty danceable tracks like ’7 Years’ that kind of attack all of your senses at once. From the soulful jazz vocal to the full-on dance breaks a la the Scissor Sisters.
For those of you looking for an album that will grab you as something completely different, this is the one for you. Having really played it to death over the last few days, it’s 2010′s equivalent of Funeral, both in terms of versatility and quality. This will without doubt be way up there on my end of year list! These folks are a band I need to see live sooner rather than later. A stunning, beautifully crafted record made with love that exudes from your speakers. That’s my sum up!
Great album.