Written by Daniela Patrizi
We don’t need to go to Reykjavik to experience the atmosphere of Icelandic music since Alec Snook, aka Zoon van snooK, decided to bring us a piece of Iceland into our homes with his new album The Bridge Between Life & Death which is due May 21st.
The Barcelona-based artist composed his new album collecting field recordings recorded in Iceland in 2009 and the first thing you’ll realize is that this is not a conventional ‘found song’ album for the shift in sound and atmosphere you can find through the 11 tracks. In about 40 minutes each field recording, one after the other, is a picture of Iceland, from the valley of Landmannalaugar to the Vulcan of Askja, to the glacial Jökulsárlón but with music that doesn't sound like ice, but like warmth. Each song is composed differently from the other one resulting in a beautiful and well mixed photographic album.
The album intro is ‘From the Cradle / Leiktími’ that announce the starting point of the trip throughout Iceland with its captivating glockenspiel. It creates the atmosphere of the day before you leave.
The following song ‘Snorri’s Saga’ is a miracle, like the waterfall of Seljalandsfoss. It conquered me immediately. It’s soft and warm and you find yourself delighting in the beauty of nature until, after two and a half minutes, it becomes darker and brings you into a deep and introspective mood.
“That’s how the life can be here on this little strange island” are the final words of ‘Björn of the Mendips’ - where the lyrics is an Icelandic anecdote. Zoon van snooK put music to the words captured during his travel experience in Iceland.
‘The Verge of Winter’ is the first song made public and should be familiar to the fans of Zoon van snooK’smusic by now. 3:47 minutes of joyful notes with gentle xylophones that reverberate vigorously accompanied by piano and strings. This sound brings me to the birds of the songs of Múm which Alec Snook maybe was inspired byduring his composing and I really love the title of this tune. It’s a joyful song associated to a season that is considered by the majority as a dark and gloomy season but full of memories of the past summer and of expectations for the forthcoming springtime. Alec lets the sun shine during the winter!
When you think you have reached the end of the album, ‘The Potter’s Garden’ featuring Amiina surprise you with a delicate twist of rhythms and sounds creating a wonderful audio environment.
I really love the rhythm of ‘Magret the Outlaw’ and its repeated beats. It’s a wonderful electronic exploration and one of those tunes that is strong enough to stand on its own feet.
The following song ‘Lyre! Lyre!’ is a sweet ballad where Zoon van snooK mix traditional Icelandic music, electronic beats and the words of an Icelandic woman. All these elements are perfectly blended.
“Tjörnin Side” represents another experiment of mixed sounds and instruments: viola, cello, guitars and glockenspiels are all combined into a nice groove that celebrates the beauty of Iceland and its inspiring power.
The concluding ‘The Gaits’ featured by the guest performer Sin Fang is the longest track of the album and it’s quite melancholic. Is it due to the fact that the trip is going towards its end? Maybe yes or maybe it is due to the mood that northern landscapes often provoke. Because the sight of that beauty is too invasive and this tune together with all the other songs of The Bridge Between Life & Death celebrate it in the most beautiful way.
All I want now is some time together with this album and a pair of earphones.
