Published on Aug 19, 2019
On their first disc in four years, Iceland’s next hot thing have turned up the volume. The great first single “Alligator” is an excellent showcase for vocalist Nanna Bryndís and shows a more modern rock sound than the previous folk stylings we’ve become accustomed to. But “Ahay” presents more of an R&B sound that’s a bit befuddling to hear. The vocal stylings of Nanna and Ragnar Þórhallsson are really weird and the song doesn’t fit well here. “Stuck In Gravity” feels the same way; Ragnar is crooning an R&B-styled jam and it’s just completely odd and doesn’t seem to work, leaving you scratching your head.
“Vulture, Vulture” is a bit more upbeat but still quite different than the OMAM that you’re used to hearing on the radio. “Waiting For The Snow” is a nice, pretty little ballad that is quite striking and refreshing. I think it’s clear to say they’ve moved on from the sound of “Little Talks.” No longer do they sound like The Lumineers, who keep making the same song over and over again. These Icelandic rockers has found a decent middle ground between upbeat rockers and down ballads.
The vocals on “Sleepwalker” are outstanding and really bring the song to life. This is one of the best tracks and a nice way to show off their progression. “Under A Dome” is a bit dull but the way the voices bounce off each other really save it. It’s nice to see such a change; the injection of newer sounds keeps the band fresh and will hopefully allow them to have a longer career than some of these other one-shot, make everything sound exactly the same type bands that have staked their claim on alternative radio over the years. This isn’t a fantastic album, but the strongest songs really help it stand out from the rest of the pack.