Light On Dark Water

I’ve been wanting to hear more of this highly regarded Icelandic band for some time on the basis of one hauntingly beautiful track from their album Agaetis Byrjun. But Von happened to come my way first, via eMusic, so this is my first extensive acquaintance with them.

I’m almost always doing something else while listening (or “listening”) to music. And after hearing this a couple of times in that way, I wasn’t especially impressed; it seemed to have some good moments, but to be a mishmash of interesting music and chaotic noises and sound effects. Then I had an opportunity to listen to the whole thing straight through, with no distractions, and was considerably more impressed. This is definitely a case where the whole is greater than the parts.

There are no gaps between the tracks, and it really needs to be heard that way, from beginning to end. The opening is dark and at certain moments frightening, with cries emerging from deep rumblings. Then ethereal light breaks, as if the darkness had been suddenly pushed aside by angels. That gives way to ordinary, yet obscure, sounds—falling rain, unintelligible voices, noises that might be mechanical—as if we’re back in the realm of everyday life. There’s a pattern of darkness giving way to light throughout the album. At the its climax, the 12-plus minute “Hafssol,” there is darkness and conflict in the foreground, but in the background the calling of distant, yearning voices. These fade, finally, only to re-emerge in a closer and more earthly mode in the remaining songs.

I really have no idea what this album is about; the titles and lyrics (if there are any—it’s hard to tell) are all in what I assume is Icelandic, and I deliberately chose not to learn anything before listening to it. So my reactions are based entirely on the music. And it sounds to me like a troubled life haunted, and ultimately rescued, by the voices of angels.

Having written the above, I went looking for more information, and discovered that “von” means “hope,” so I guess my reaction is not far off base.

You can hear samples here, although samples tell even less of the story than with most albums. And I see one track is missing now. By the way the review wasn’t present when I downloaded it some time ago; I don’t especially agree with it. If you are considering buying this as individual tracks, you can skip track 12: it’s six minutes of silence followed by a backwards version of “Myrkur” (called “Rukrym”—ha ha).

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