Rökkurró
Country of origin:
Iceland
Type of music generally:
alternative pop
Status:
Most recent release, Innra (2014)
See also:
Rökkurró's site
Comparisons:
Múm, Samaris, Sigur Rós
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
A wonderful yet obscure band. (gordoja@optonline.net)
Recommended first album:
Í Annan Heim or Innra
Recordings:
- Það kólnar í kvöld... (2007)
- Í Annan Heim (2010)
- Innra (2014)
Það kólnar í kvöld...
Release info:
2007—12 Tónar—12T043
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Low
Group members:
Arnór Gunnarsson
Árni Þór Árnason
Björn Pálmi Pálmason
Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir
Ingibjörg Elsa Turchi
Comments:
This album has always felt like one I should like more than I actually do, and I'm not quite sure why. The music and instrumentation are interesting, but somehow the vocals (universally high and sweet) don't always seem to gel with them. So it feels a bit dissonant, but not purposefully so. Still, tracks 1, 6, and 8 are quite good. (JoAnn Whetsell)
í Annan Heim
Release info:
2010—12 Tónar—12T055
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Axel Ingi Jónsson
Árni Þór Árnason
Björn Pálmi Pálmason
Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir
Ingibjörg Elsa Turchi
Produced by:
Alex Somers and Rökkurró
Comments:
This album is a big step up from their debut. While I still find the music more interesting than the vocals, they work much better together and the songs are more cohesive. The mood ranges from the ethereal to more rock moments. A great step in the right direction. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Innra
Release info:
2014—Rökkurró Music
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended with reservations
Group members:
Axel Ingi Jónsson, Árni Þór Árnason, Björn Pálmi Pálmason, Helga Ragnarsdóttir, Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir, Skúli Agnarr
Guest artists:
Þorvaldue "Doddi" Þorvaldsson—drums, percussion
Helgi Hrafn Jónsson—brass, vocals, synths, guitar, and bit of everything else
Tina Dico—vocals
Produced by:
Helgi Hrafn Jónsson
Comments:
"The Backbone" is drop dead gorgeous. (gordoja@optonline.net)Light, high yet urgent vocals over mostly driving electropo (some tracks are more stripped-down. While I utterly adore the track "The Backbone," where it seems all of the elements that make up Rökkurró's sound suddenly come together in a stunning, gorgeous moment, the rest of this album doesn't add up to that much for me, not matter how much I want it to. I find it pleasant, but really want to like this more. In the meantime, I hit repeat on "The Backbone." (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Rökkurró have taken another giant step in the right direction with this album, their first to contain English language songs (only 2 tracks are in Icelandic). The music is more intense and driving, the vocals as sweet as ever. There's much that's beautiful, in particular the songs "Killing Time," "Flugdrekar," and "Red Sun." JoAnn Whetsell
