Search - Slowblow :: Noi Albinoi

Slowblow makes excellent music for a beautiful film.

Wednesday | my fallout shelter | 06/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This music soundtrack to the debut feature length film by Dagur Kari is mostly free of vocals. Kari is also part of the band Slowblow, originally from Iceland. You start arguing with yourself about which instruments are your favorites nearly half way through the soundtrack... is it the piano or five-string guitar? The minimalism of the music works well this gorgeous full-length film that finally came to the US this year. The first scenes of four feet high snowdrifts permeate the atmosphere of this soundtrack. The introduction of electric guitar ponders and glides like a skater across a frozen pond with a haunting musical saw simulating a winter wind. Thank goodness we hear more of this saw sound again later into the soundtrack."Hillbilly" is a banjo-piano melodic piece calling to old Appalachian memories.The piano work is dramatic and sometimes evokes a feeling of stark loneliness or the melodies are reminiscent of old time merry-go-rounds."Komdu Litla Barn" is a non-Slowblow track by Sigridur Nielsdottir that fits perfectly with the sentiment."Elegy" is a string track by a non-Slowblow quartet--exquisitely inspirational."Groove" is a rich rock 'n' roll instrumental that takes the soundtrack to a different level temporarily, but at least we hear all the Slowblow potential to be ready for their next release on Bubblecore Records. Their first two albums, Quicksilver Tuna and Fousque, are now out of print. Quicksilver Tuna contains "Is Jesus Your Pal?" which was later covered by Gus Gus on the album Polydistortion.If you like "Aim for a Smile"--the last track from Noi Albinoi which is used in the end credits, then you should try to look for the soundtrack album Popp in Reykjavik (a documentary film about the Icelandic music scene from 1999), which contains another pop song from Slowblow called "Flirt" with vocalist Emilionu. "Aim for a Smile" is not actually straight on pop but a very emotional sounding style that is addictive upon hearing.I think this is a hopeful start in getting this band heard through film because they do have an introspective style that is well-suited to the big screen."