Product Description Most music lovers first heard of Amiina due to their association with another Icelandic band called Sigur Ros. The girls started working with Sigur Ros in the mid 90's, resulting in their first shows with the band in 1999. The rest, of course, is history, as Amiina became the string players for all of Sigur Ros' subsequent tours and records. Like the sound of cooing, aspects of Amiina's music flicker quietly and float softly, content and beautiful. Kurr is full of dazzling moments of that caliber, a wholly original work that is delicate, intricate and dream-like. Their music is genuinely so special, ineffably charming and infused with a sense of cosmic magic. It's certainly wielded that power on us. .com Amiina not only sound like Arvo Pärt in a music box, they actually play a music box. It's among the thrift-store instruments the Icelandic quartet employs, which include wine glasses, bowed saws, antique synthesizers, and--yes, even the violins, viola, and cello that they originally started with. We've been hearing Amiina for a few years now, adding strings and additional quirkiness to the last few albums by fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós. While Sigur Rós work in epic electric dimensions, Amiina work in the delicate spaces of fragile sounds and folk refrains. On Kurr, their first full-length album, they manage to be quaint and exotic, like a modern vision set in a dusty portrait from the past. Amiina's mixture of classicism and humor owes a debt to the Penguin Café Orchestra. But while the late Simon Jeffe's outfit had the air of erudite wit and debonair grace, Amiina are cuter, musically and visually. Like kids in the attic, they exude a more innocent, yet exploratory charm. Whether plucking pastoral electric guitar lines and singing a schoolyard chant on "Rugla," bowing saws and tapping glockenspiels on "Seoul," or actually playing their classical strings, Amiina enchant like a peek inside an elven gathering under the roots of Yggdrasil. --John Diliberto
D**N
Amusing grace
This graceful piece has all the bells, strings, xylophone and chime influences which will catch you ears in a kind way. Its intense but soft musicality with seducing tones can induce you to remember Amelie's soundtrack: it has that instant classicality to it with high pitched almost naive and playful piano keys and steady violins. It is also haunting but not in a dark way, more in that grounded but light folk touch. It's at that edge where it avoids marshmallowy syrup, but it remains purely "musical" -not pop, nor rock, no vocals.Amiina manage to guide you with grace through different types of instruments and their blending makes for one unique genre, agreeable in all, with an innocent vanilla like taste although it could be perceived to some as rather identical, one from the other song. I think the interest here it's the originality and calmness that breathes through as well as the playfulness of the whole: it does have the Iceland touch without the pretentiousness maybe of higher valued "stars" and other "rock" influences."Kurr" will fit into someone's collection who seeks to diversify and keep abreast of the current trends without falling into the pop-group-flavor-of-the-week syndrome.
H**N
CLOCKWORK WEFT
There's an epicyclic music-box quality to this consistently fragile and delicate work: a sense of precision at once profound and simultaneously subsumed by its resultant beauty and understatement. Airy, consonant, reflective even during some curiously well-fitted theremin passages, (recall the saw found on Deathprod's "Morals and Dogma") these 12 pieces are so even-keeled that they operate equally well as vertical music -- come and go as you please -- and as active listening: the cover image providing an excellent metaphor in representation of the music within (and no relation to Climax Blues Band "Tightly Knit"). For listeners of Sigur Ros, perhaps too demure. For listeners of Rachel's and Clogs the music of Kurr will be familiar in places, but resolutely unengaged with contrasts of the violent sort, deeply engaged in contrasts of the subtle sort. For this listener, a sense of gratitude that the quieter voices are finding a channel.
E**E
Swell!
I grabbed this album on a whim and have to say I am really pleased with the leap of faith. Upon my first listen, I was afraid that band was just the middle ground between Mum and Sigor Ros, however, with each progressive listen this quartet sunk deeper into my brain.The album has a really nice natural sound to it. It seems to me that all parts were hand played on an diverse range of analog instruments. It doesn't sound to my ears that they have any samples going on and I have say that this is one of the albums greatest strengths. It really feels like four people conversing musically with each other and responding in a very raw compelling way. It's all very beautiful and delicate.If you like Mum, Sigor Ros, Bjork, Cocteau Twins or CocoRosie and the like- I imagine you will have a good time with album. I also recommend this for folks who like sound scaping things along the lines of Robert Fripp or fans of Miles Davis- In A Silent Way.
R**Y
Beautiful
Amiina offers an ambient and melodic atmosphere that's never too dull. Their use of a wide range of instruments allows for some very unique sounds. I find myself getting relaxed and lost in many of their compositions, which have a dream-like quality to them. They're definitely worth a listen, especially if you're a fan of classical and instrumental music with a contemporary twist.
A**E
amiina
as a huge fan of sigur ros, i was pleased to find out that the girls who made up their string section were making a cd of their own. unlike sigur ros, this cd is mostly instrumental and not nearly as 'indie rock'. but, it is a wonder and a pleasure to listen to. it has a calming effect behind the soft music played on unconventional objects. absolutely beautiful.
K**E
meditative and healing
I happened upon Amiina's Kurr while looking for music to listen to after a recent surgery and am so happy I did. The music is playful, light, and lyrical while creating a tone of ethereal peacefulness. As an artist, I will surely use this music in my studio to support my creative practice as well.
J**R
truly amazing,
Amiina's Kurr is a great piece of work, Sigur Rós' string quartet was really well chosen. Only a few albums have the feeling this one does, for me it's a weird mixture of happiness, sadness and hope, perfect for rainy afternoons. It's a pity that Puzzle isn't as good as this, I think they shouldn't have changed their direction. Favorite songs: Rugla, Hilli, Seoul, Sexfaldur.
E**T
Kurr
Product came in quickly and was of excellent quality. I have not heard Amiina's work before but I am impressed by the sound.
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