About the artist: Born Ásgeir Trausti Einarsson in the small village of Laugarbakki, Iceland, Ásgeir only uses his first name to record music under since widening his audience to an international scale. His first album, originally released in his homeland in 2012, became the fastest selling debut album in Icelandic history. It then finally saw release in the States in 2014 under the title In The Silence, all lyrics re-recorded in English. That album, with it's acoustic guitar leanings, established Ásgeir as a new face to be reckoned with on the folk scene. It would have been real easy to follow that path and stay within that genre, but Ásgeir had different plans when it came time for album number two.
2017 saw the release of his second album, Afterglow, and this time there was a new sound to Ásgeir's music. On this outing, his music was much more electronic based, layered with synths and electronic beats, while still retaining his gift for melody, in much more pop-based songs. The multi-instrumentalist toured the world behind the album, continuing to grow his audience in the process.
About the album: Ásgeir's third album arrives in two versions. There is Sátt, a return to recording entirely in Icelandic. Then there is the English version, Bury The Moon. This album was borne out of heartbreak. After the end of a long-term relationship, Ásgeir returned home to a small summerhouse in Iceland to heal alone. Winter was spent writing the songs that would become Bury The Moon. He says it was a simple recording set-up, with just his guitar and keyboard to help shape the skeletons of these songs. The isolation and lack of distractions was just the medicine he needed to craft his third full length. As songs started to blossom, he called on others for lyrical assistance, most notably his father Einar Georg Einarsson who has been a key collaborator on past works with his son. Once again, fellow musician John Grant was enlisted to help translate the songs into English, and Bury The Moon was on its way to completion.
Much like his second album Afterglow, this is a very musically diverse affair. Ásgeir's folk roots never stray too far. Opener "Pictures" is built on acoustic guitar and piano, with lovely brass accompaniment towards the end of this call for unity in this divided world. First single "Youth" is a stunner. Also acoustic guitar based, it's a reflection on childhood memories and the joys of being young, a song sure to take you back on a nostalgic journey to your own childhood in the process. Drums and horns join in halfway through in a glorious finale. There are more acoustic based tracks within the folk genre such as "Eventide" and "Overlay" but as I mentioned, this is far from an all-acoustic folk album.
"Breathe" is a standout piano ballad, while second single "Lazy Giants" relies on keyboards to carry it along, a melodic pop track among the best on the album. "Rattled Snow" is another personal favorite, with a much more sinister electronic keyboard effect running underneath while gorgeous strings are layered over the song, the dark contrasting with the beautiful to stunning effect. "Turn Gold To Sand" has a laid back, soulful feel with electronic beats and a slinky guitar line, while "Until Daybreak" also dives into the R&B realm. Throughout is Ásgeir's angelic voice, singing lyrics that resonate universally, backed by wonderfully melodic folk, pop, electronic and soul sounds. It all adds up to one of 2020's best albums so far.
Favorite tracks: "Youth", "Rattled Snow", "Until Daybreak", "Lazy Giants
Bury The Moon was released February 7th, 2020 on the One Little Indian label.
Purchase Bury The Moon from Amazon.com
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