Árstíðir
Árstíðir (German: "Jahreszeiten") is an Icelandic indie folk band with elements from classical music , progressive rock and minimalism . What sets the band apart from the genre mix of their music is the fact that all members sing.
The band was founded in Reykjavík in 2008 as a trio consisting of Daniel Auðunsson (guitar), Gunnar Már Jakobsson (guitar) and Ragnar Ólafsson (baritone guitar). When recording the first album Árstíðir Hallgrímur Jónas Jensson (cello) and Jón Elísson (piano) were added. In 2010 the band became a sextet with Karl James Pestka (violin). At the end of 2013, Jón Elísson and Hallgrímur Jónas Jensson said goodbye to Árstíðir and the remaining quartet rearranged itself.
Árstíðir currently (2015) consists of Karl James Pestka (violin), Gunnar Már Jakobsson (baritone guitar), Daniel Auðunsson (guitar) and Ragnar Ólafsson (piano). Live they are supported by a cellist. The band has been Independent since its inception . You have your own record company in Iceland and in Germany you have a partner contract with Best Entertainment . In August 2017, the Icelanders signed a worldwide contract with the French label Season of Mist .
In 2014 they recorded their third studio album, Hvel , which was successfully funded through Kickstarter.com and was released in 2015. Michael Büttgen wrote on the online prog rock encyclopedia Baby Blue Pages “... when I [...] ask the Google translator (my Icelandic is a bit rusty), he spits out 'hemispheres'. It may or may not be right, but it's the name of a Rush album after all . It MUST be Prog and can be discussed here on the pages. The sound of Árstíðir is a fine combination of folk rock from Simon & Garfunkel and floating post rock a la Sigur Rós , embedded in a melancholy atmosphere like the one created by the Australian Dead Can Dance . ” He rated the album with 12 out of a possible 15 Points.
Discography
- 2009: Árstíðir (album)
- 2009: Live at Fríkirkjan (EP)
- 2011: Svefns og vöku skil (album)
- 2012: Tvíeind (Remix EP)
- 2015: Hvel (album)
- 2016: Verloren verleden (with Anneke van Giersbergen )
- 2018: Nivalis (album)
Web links
- Official website (English)
- Árstíðir at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Season of Mist (accessed November 6, 2017)
- ↑ Album review on Baby Blue Pages (accessed March 12, 2015)