Music Reviews
LIVE: Hjaltalin
Freebutt, 18th January 2009
The Arctic Circle lengthened its diameter on this January eve with the Icelandic based Hjaltalin landing on the south shores. Having been named "The new Icelandic sensation" amidst their debut release "Sleepdrunk Seasons" one can only prepare for the newest of the consistently refreshing exports of this country.
A Viking blonde front man stares at the far wall of the FreeButt – possibly conversing with the rather hairy sound guy – but more likely gazing a thousand yards to the nearest glen, stream, mist or geographical marvel invisigable. A gentle hum climbs upward through him balanced by the murmurs of brass and percussion to create a silencing raw, elemental in expression. This sound does leave them susceptible with relation to another Reykjavik group; Sigur Ros (arguably some of the largest shoes to fill) yet Hjaltalin seem less orchestrated or practiced in their approach to making music. As if they were six soloists waiting for the others to take the lead the, normally, nine-piece group shared a mix of glares and smiles on stage creating a ‘family’ band feel. Midway through the set the bassist – having briefly lost his passport in France – leaps in between the melodic girders already established and, to the crowd’s enjoyment, nods in favour of the next song choice.
The oddly overwhelming presence of pale, windswept faces showed quite clearly the extent of their early success, of which they seemed genuinely surprised and grateful. A poppier version of the single “The trees don’t like the smoke” was met by a sing along, reminiscent of some sort of comeback tour but these younglings have been together for but a few years. Their slower gentile action builds and breaks in waves of sound not dissimilar to Arcade Fire but all along their conclusion seems out of reach. One song merging to another in a sometimes frustrating fashion of which their youth seems contradictory.
Less sure in presence as their rapturous noise, less old in face as their knowing melody, far more exciting than most. Whether as the soundtrack for David Attenboroughs next project or in this years breakthrough acts I feel this ice-berg aint goin’ nowhere!
Words by Tom Sargeant
Photography by Matthew Hodson