musicAddicted

When Amiina’s second album Puzzle was released last year I quite didn’t know what to think of it. Before it, they were known as Icelandic strings quartet who accompanied Sigur Rós on the extraordinary nameless album ( ) and later released their own debut, Kurr, which mostly consisted of hushed self-made percussion and lush, minimalist strings arrangements. As if Amiina’s music confirmed all the kitschy preconceptions about Icelandic instrumental music – luckily, in the most sincere and purest form. After collaboration with musicAddicted’s favourite noise-maker Ben Frost and many other artists Amiina expanded into sextet; drummer Magnús Trygvason Eliassen and electronics-master Kippi Kaninus joined the entirely female group. Besides gender variety their arrival meant deepening and electrifying Amiina’s translucent acoustic sound and ended in the surprising addition of vocal solos and move towards an unexpected and bit odd kind of electro-ambient-folk-pop.

Sicsak, penultimate song from Puzzle, was the most thrilling and accomplished composition of their entire career. While the sextet was gradually building tense during the whole Puzzle, most times it was released before peaking. Sicsak is different – Amiina work slowly and persistently, add layers and tempt the listener with the patience. This live version even emphasizes the power of Sicsak. Girls and boys are seen changing the instruments, sampling and echoing, taking their artistic mission as a play. After all, Amiina’s music is a play – with sound and its infinite forms. The most exciting thing about this live footage is their analytical and serious behaviour and its contrast to the lightness and effortless flavour of the song. It’s obvious that music is their life. This truth is fully palpable during Sicsak’s full seven minutes of slow building the fulfilling climax. This music is a pure satisfaction.