When I think of Iceland, I think of the greenery, the vast mountains and the crisp air. There are only two sounds I expect to hear: the wind blowing through the valleys and sounds of Sigur Rós’ lead singer, Jónsi, playing on the piano. Well actually…that’s the only sound I associate Iceland with. But who can blame me, really; Sigur Rós’ is an international phenomena! That’s why when I received an email containing, Made in Iceland V, I quickly jumped at the opportunity to expose myself to the various exhibitions of instruments and vocals.
Comprised of 18 different artists, Made in Iceland V is still a cohesive album. The tone of each track glides smoothly into the next, which kind of leads you to think that maybe there is only one artist behind all the beauty. However, if you listen closely, no two accents or hearts are the same. The lyrics, and even the words themselves, are not all in English. I enjoyed the variety of listening to soft Icelandic words juxtaposed to my native tongue. Though admittedly, I found myself wanting to hear more of a language that I am not entirely comfortable with; the ambiguity of being lost in translation allows me to create a narrative all of my own, making Iceland a personal place for me.
So what will you hear exactly when you import these tracks into your media player? Anywhere from Ben Folds (“Animals,” by Vigri) to Franz Ferdinand (“Hellbound Heart,” by Rejkjavík!). The sounds are completely limitless, but if you’re absolutely curious, yes, there are some ambient tracks on this record, found none other than in Lockerbie’s, “Laut” and Ólafur Arnald’s, “Near Light.”
Other featured artists include: Lay Low, Sóley, Vintage caravan, and many, many more. So go, step away from the familiarity of what you think you know, and get lost in the tranquil, and other times, funky, sounds of Iceland exclusively spinning in Made in Iceland V.
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