Published August 31, 2010
Mrs. Burton
Technically, Rökkurró makes no mistakes with tuning, rhythm and
production; however, “Í annan heim” fails on a larger level. The album
lacks musical intuition—every song sounds formulaic and bland. The
finger-picked guitars never expand into something shimmering. Instead,
the same simple, slow-moving guitar phrases and chords are recycled
throughout each song. The lead singer’s voice, much more suited for
background harmonies, lacks original style, range and energy. Everything
about the percussion: the flat production, heavy down beats followed by
slow drum rolls, and extreme repetitiveness, follow the formula for a
typical Christian rock song (you know, that genre of music that puts God
first and music last). The strings follow predictable swell
progressions, landing on tonic notes, and weigh down the songs rather
than pushing them The ambient moments fail to create grandeur and the
folk moments lack intimacy. “Í annan heim” falls short on innovation,
intricacy, movement, energy and surprise. People who like Sixpense None
The Richer, watered down Evenescence or Christian rock radio might like
this album. If you are not one of those people, then you should probably
stay away from “Í annan heim.”
Mr. Cluness
Ok, first of all let’s get one thing out of the way. Í Annan Heim is by
no means awful. It’s a competently put together record containing nine
tracks of soft, ethereal glacier rock. But ironically, the sound is also
the main problem with it. Í Annan Heim comes across as the product of a
life spent being developed in a genetics lab with the sole purpose of
creating music that would only be enjoyed by backpacking tourists. Like a
purebred Touristcore with four asses. With child-like female vocals,
apologetic drumming and winsome picked guitars, it feels like other
Icelandic bands mixed together, only not quite as good. Even when they
wake up and put some fizz into it, as on ‘Sjónarspil’, it just sounds
like Sigur Rós’ ‘Glósóli’ sung by Mammút. So while it ticks all the
relevant boxes for a person travelling the golden circle, for the rest
of us the sheen can’t disguise that there is a lot better out there.
- Website: www.myspace.com/rokkurro
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