There are strange forces at work, lurking underneath the shiny, impeccable surface of this place: Looming behind all those perfect little fence posts and neighborly smiles, there's a sense of isolation, of emptiness, a hint of claustrophobia, that fear of being in the wrong place, too far removed from where things are really happening. It's true: darkness has fallen upon suburbia. Welcome to the unadorned world of Innhverfi.

Using a play on the Icelandic words for "suburbs" and "introvert" for its title, Innhverfi is the debut solo album from Sigur Rós' and Jónsi's touring keyboard player/percussionist Óbó – in his passport it says Ólafur Björn Ólafsson –, and although comprised of no more than 7 compositions, it does run the gamut of suburban bliss turned upside down: After the LP's minimalistic opener "Úthverfi", a track that melancholically opens up after a long, immensely dark and brooding intro, that ultimately offers some respite in the form of playful Glockenspiel over layers of slow-moving sonic lava, the equally cinematic "Svartur galdur" leaves much room for Óbó's trademark baritone: Like a bespectacled puppeteer with fluffy hair, he seems to shuffle and rearrange home-recorded bits and lullaby-like DIY pieces in front of our very eyes, which can't help but follow, as we move deeper into the somewhat forlorn suburban landscape that has inspired this record. Imagine dark, wet streets, overcast little alleys, and suddenly a cat or a candle on a windowsill, breathing slowly.

Elsewhere, "Gjallarhornin" – all spoken words, piano, strings, vibraphone, rearranged like a whirlwind in slow-motion – makes way for a hopeful oomph deferred and silent-movie era melodies, while "Stilla", an instrumental, commences like early Efterklang, but there's no gaudiness on the horizon: When the subtle electronics and percussions erupt in the end, it all feels just right – if only for a brief moment. Finally, the subdued birdsong and jazz-inspired piano of "Fyrirbo∂i" underline that Ólafsson has worked on motion picture soundtracks in the past – e.g. The Good Heart, Steypa –, and before it all ends, he even throws in a foot-stompin' alt-pop song of sorts ("Rétt e∂a rangt?"). The last stop of this journey into the haunting underbelly of the suburban mind is "Gullregn": A creaking door that opens to unveil his own garden of forking paths, a place where one can still decide, shake things up, jump the fence and run, leave before it's too late. It's pure possibility, presented in a golden light.

Although Innhverfi is his debut effort as a solo artist, Óbó's musical handwriting has been all over the Icelandic map in recent years: A multi-instrumentalist and a wizard on percussions, he studied piano and later composition in various European cities and has performed and recorded with artists such as Sigur Rós, Jónsi, Emiliana Torrini, Stórsveit Nix Noltes, slowblow, Benni Hemm Hemm, múm, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Úlfur Hansson and Valgeir Sigur∂sson, to name a few.

Though few will be able to understand the lyrics in his native Icelandic, one thing is certain: Innhverfi is the very antidote to the affliction and troubles it sketches out. Turns out we've been in the right place all along.

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Óbó: Rett Eda Rangt?

Taken from the new album "Ask the Deep" - out May 8th 2015 on Morr Music - Directed by Máni Sigfússon
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Buy the record

Sóley: Halloween

From 'Brightly Painted One', released May 2014.

Chainmail Maker

Michael Nau
"Some Twist" CD/LP/DIG
Pre-Order: http://store.suicidesqueeze.net
Release Date: June 16, 2017
Label: Suicide Squeeze Records
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Some Twist

How You're So For Real by Michael Nau

Michael Nau
"The Load EP" DIG
Release Date: September 15, 2017
Label: Suicide Squeeze Records
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Artist Twitter: @naumichael
Artist Instagram: @mnau
www.facebook.com/suicidesqueezerecords
Label Twitter / Instagram: @suicidesqueeze
www.suicidesqueeze.net

drums - Dan Burns 
bass - Benny Yurco 
optigan, vocals - Natalie Prass 
strings - Seth Kauffman 
guitar, vocals - Michael Nau 
engineered by Benny Yurco 
mixed by Graeme Gibson

The Load EP

Michael Nau - Diamond Anyway

Punch Brothers - "Packt Like Sardines In a Crush'd Tin Box" (Radiohead Cover)

"native america" is the 3rd single off dog bite's debut full-length "velvet changes".

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Dog Bite - Native America

Artist: Elephant
Release: Skyscraper
Format: 7" and download
Label: Memphis Industries

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(p) Memphis Industries 2013

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Elephant - Spies

Song from the Japan only bonus "Hotel EP" CD, piano instrumental songs recorded in hotels during 4 European tours.

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DIRTY BEACHES "Danseur De Ballet"

Thom Yorke - Ingenue (live on 'The Jonathan Ross Show')

From the album 'Permanent Signal' - out August 20 via Secretly Canadian


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Punch Brothers - "Packt Like Sardines In a Crush'd Tin Box" (Radiohead Cover)

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