Here we have it folks, the most quirky and unique record of 2024. We can confidently call it. Titled ‘Songs from Skriðuklaustur’, the EP develops on a highly peculiar sonic formula, drawing equally from Jazz’s aleatory freedom, Classical’s elegance and poignancy, and contemporary music’s relatable and emotional tones. Everything plays a part in creating a completely new idiom, one that’s not easy to understand at first.
Take for instance ‘False Positives’; a minimal and crepuscular composition, the track sounds as if it were written for sequencers and synthetisers. Over a complex tapestry of interlocking rhythms, Manchester and Iceland-based outfit Polar Institute lay down a series of long cinematic soundscapes, creating a stark contrast between the abstract portion of the piece and its more digestible commonalities.
As the record suggests, the EP was recorded in remote Eastern Iceland, at the famed Sundlaugin studios near Reykjavík. Head honcho Rob Thorpe explains how he’d like to tour the island’s communities: “We would like to bring performances to communities across Iceland, as the music was inspired by the experiences of Skriðuklaustur”.
Recommended! Discover ‘Songs from Skriðuklaustur’ on Spotify and Bandcamp:
