Sunday, September 2, 2007

Hildur Gudnadóttir / BJ Nilsen / Stilluppsteypa - Second Childhood


from Vital Weekly # 584:

So far there have been already two CDs of collaborations between Icelandic Stillupsteypa (being Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson and Helgi Thorsson) and BJ Nilsen, also known as Hazard. Here they come together again, in Stockholm, where Nilsen lives, to work together and invite a new friend, Hildur Ingveldardottir Gudnadottir. Who? She plays cello and did so for many of her own projects, playing Bulgarian and Balkan music, but also for Mum, Skuli Sverrisson, Angel and has a prominent feature on the recent Pan Sonic CD.
The two previous releases dealt with the thematic approach of alcohol abuse, but here they sober up and start their second childhood, going back to the world of pure drone music. Gudnadottir's cello playing is at the core, and perhaps like a good mother she overseas the activities of her children play around with whatever she throws around. But they remain from the Nordic countries so they don't say much, so much of what these four people do is sparsely orchestrated.
Pieces consist of sparse lit harmonium drones, which no doubt have underwent some computer processing.
There is a more musical texture to these pieces than on the previous two releases, and that's mainly the cello to be accounted for.
But it's another strong album, this one. Minimal pieces of drone music, dark and atmospheric, just the perfect music for a mid winter sit along at home in Scandinavia or a rain covered day in the Dutch summer.
Another very fine work but of course I am sucker for this kind of more urgent drone music.
(Frans de Waard)

Label: Quecksilber
Cat. #: quecksilber 12
Format: CD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
01 - It's About The Size Of A House (06:34)
02 - Temple Of The Holy Tooth (12:01)
03 - How To Catch The Right Thought (10:51)
04 - The Direction Was Foggy Or Cloudy (06:11)
05 - I Have Seen Similar Stones.mp3 (10:39)
06 – Arrival (08:56)
07 - Writing On A Dead Animal (01:30)

Links:
BJ Nilsen
Hildur Gudnadóttir
Stilluppsteypa
Quecksilber

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