From Iceland — Þórir: Janúar

Published May 4, 2012

Þórir Georg’s second solo album under his own name displays both ends of Þórir’s increasingly diverse and expanding musical palette as he ventures off into his own bleak world.
In reality, ‘Janúar’ is actually two separate albums living in a single entity. The first album, ‘Janúar,’ is the structured, conscious piece, containing songs of feedback infused power and melody. Tracks such as “Ekki neitt,” with a simple drum machine rhythm, growling guitars and bleached out vocals are eerily reminiscent of the solo work that Curver did back in the early ’90s.
The second album, which we shall call ‘Untitled,’ is the subconscious side which is shorter, more mysterious. Faint whiffs of formless sound mix with luminescent pools of guitar noise and soft drones. More like a half remembered memory than your standard music fare.
Both these “albums” are kept separate and distinct with the shift between the two abrupt and sometimes jarring, although on a couple of occasions, they begin to bleed into each other, such as on the intro to “Helst.” The impression on listening to the record is that of clashing emotions and seasons, of warm sunlight and grey gloom.
His album is currently available to buy at Gogoyoko. You could download it for free from the pbp punk website. But personally I think you should buy this record, as it’s a finely honed piece of lo-fi music that shows the pretenders how it’s done.