HINN ÍSLENZKI ÞURSAFLOKKUR

This was a discovery I made in the not too distant past, I was not expecting much, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this obscurity. It was very tempting to hear an album from Iceland that wasn't Sigur Ros. It should be noted that the band's name at the release of this album was Hinn Íslenski Þursaflokkur, and changed their name to Þursaflokkurinn when they released Gaeti Eins Verid. Across the internet, this band has been called a plethora of incorrect names, for example Pursaflokkurin, and Oursaflokkurin. The name translates into "The Icelandic Flock of Trolls."

The music here is very bizarre, particularly some very odd vocals provided by Egill Ólafsson. For the most part the tracks are very diverse within themselves, sometimes sounding not overtly similar to Gentle Giant, most of the times playing with very folksy sound. But the nuances percieved throughout this album are quite unique.

The two most immediately likeable tracks on the album are "Sólnes" and "Nútíminn." The former being a softer and lighter instrumental with a beautiful guitar line that is featured several times in the song, being one of those moments that covers your body in goosebumps. The latter being a more conventional piece, the most conventional and most immediately aimable song on the album. It opens with a some catchy guitar work, and is an altogether a pretty catchy song.

The remainder of the album is the more bizarre side, playful folkiness is represented in "Einsetumaður Einu Sinni" and "Hættu Að Gráta Hringaná." As a whole not an essential album but is definitely an intriguing obscurity, and an excellent addition to any prog music collection.