Published December 15, 2010
Here’s one thing my sarcastic inner-monologue mentioned the other day: “You know what you REALLY need right now? Some easy listening music to help you survive the Christmas gravy delivery system this year.” Then in a stroke of good timing, such an album drops on my desk, courtesy of Sigurður ‘Hjálmar’ Guðmundsson and Memfismafían. Eleven tracks (plus a DVD performance) of slow orchestral arrangements, ‘50s style harmonies, quaint Andy Williams style crooned lyrics about snow, and images of awful jumpers, Advocaat poisoning and radioactive turkey come at you like a torrent of slow moving cheese. Now, normally I wouldn’t be doing with this sort of nonsense, but I’m giving this a higher mark than it deserves for three reasons. Firstly, the opening track ‘Jólastjarnan’ uses a Scott Walker tune that has a more ambitious arrangement, thus managing to transcend the kitsch. It is the best track of the album. Second, the closing track ‘Nýársmorgunn’ actually creates a nice sombre feel pretty much akin to New Year’s Day itself. And three: err… its Christmas?
Bottom line: A great ironic soundtrack to a gangland torture session.
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