a r t i s t : Hildur Gudnadottir
t i t l e : Without Sinking
d a t e : 2009
l a b e l : Touch
c a t : TO:70
s o u r c e : CDDA
g e n r e : Other
r l s. d a t e : Mar/2009
t r a c k s : 10
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 58,4 MB
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Unveiled Composed and recorded by Hildur Ingveldardottir
Gudnadottir in Berlin and Reykjavik Hildur played cello,
zither, processors and voice Additional recordings by Skuli
Sverrisson, bass and processors on all tracks except track 7
Johann Johannsson, organs and processors on tracks 2, 3 and 9
Gu≡ni Franzson, clarinet and bass clarinet on tracks 7 and 10
Cello made by David Wiebe in 1991. Cello nr 49 Reviews:
Boomkat (UK): Hildur Gudnadottir is a gifted cellist with an
impressive history of collaborations that includes work with
Pan Sonic, Throbbing Gristle, Johann Johannsson, Skuli
Sverrisson and Ben Frost among many others, as well as being a
member of Iceland's notable Kitchen Motors collective. She
first came to our attention on Pan Sonic's epic 'Katodivaihe'
album from a couple of years back, her intense, blackened
cello adding another dimension to Vainio and Vaeisaenen's icy
tundras. "Without Sinking" (her second solo album and first
for the Touch label) is, however, by far the most cohesive and
engrossing release of her career to date. It's not often that
sales notes offer much by way of an insight into the real
thought process or inspiration behind an album, but
Gudnadottir's description of many hours spent on flights
around the world looking at clouds really does encapsulate the
atmosphere and semi-opaque wonder of these recordings. "I
wanted to have open space for single notes and let them
breath, like single clouds in a clear sky. As a contrast I
also wanted create denser and heavier compositions which were
more thundercloud like. I like the way clouds form, how many
tiny droplets can form such dense forms and then slowly
evaporate into thin string-like forms." The sound
Gudnadottir's cello makes paints these mysterious landscapes
with an almost mystical purity, opening track "Elevation", for
example, manages to outline an increasingly intense, almost
mournful picture with seemingly simple layering techniques and
barely perceptible processes submerged by the pregnant sound
of Gudnadottir's hugely evocative instrument. But the album
also includes contributions from a number of guests - most
notably Johann Johannsson, Skuli Sverrisson and even Hildur's
father Gu≡ni Franzson, with tracks like "Aether" introducing
Harp and wind instruments with a gentle economy that's so
fragile and simple it's just nothing short of heart-stopping.
The album closes with the dense "Unveiled", an ominous drone
undulation steered by those cautious, towering strings and
barely perceptible found sounds. It's the space between the
notes, the restraint and expectation, that packs the biggest
emotional punch on this incredibly moving recording, never
allowing those 'cinematic' qualities to get in the way of the
genuine dread and catharsis resting at the core of this
utterly magnificent album. Amazing music.
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01-Elevation [05:58]
02-Overcast [03:18]
03-Erupting Light [02:22]
04-Circular [04:19]
05-Ascent [04:43]
06-Opaque [03:51]
07-Aether [05:11]
08-Whiten [04:52]
09-Into Warmer Air [06:11]
10-Unveiled [07:13]
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47:58 min