With their third album' Hvel', the Icelandic ARSTIDIR finally climb into the upper class of Icelandic musicians. Hvel' is a Chamber-Folk masterpiece and is released as Vinyl LP (180gr incl. CD) on BEST! UNTERHALTUNG. ARSTIDIR made a dream start in 2008 with two number one hits on Iceland's state-run radio. The self-titled debut album didn't take long and appeared on the domestic market in 2009. The successor didn't wait long and in 2011 ARSTIDIR presented their second album' Svefns Og V?ku Skil'. It was produced by none other than the award-winning Icelandic film composer OLAFUR ARNALDS, mixed by the German New-Classic composer NILS FRAHM. The album was created in the legendary Icelandic Hlj?driti studio. In 2012 the band released their EP' Tv?eind': a compilation of remixes of their songs by various internationally known musicians from the electronic scene. The new album' Hvel' is released by the quartet (DANIEL AUDUNSSON - guitar, vocals, GUNNAR MAR JAKOBSSON - guitar and vocals, KARL JAMES PESTKA - violin, cello, electronics, vocals and RAGNAR OLAFSSON - piano, baritone guitar and vocals). Sophisticated polyphonic vocals and string instruments (cello, violin) make up the enormous fascination of ARSTIDIR, which lend the folky basic structures of acoustic guitars a chamber music-like, almost sublime aura. The fact that the Icelanders mostly sing in their mother tongue further enhances the mysterious charm of the album. The songs come to the point with all the refinement and complexity of the arrangements, touching with a clarity and intense emotionality, as they also distinguish SIGUR ROS or OLAFUR ARNALDS. The Icelanders are constantly on the road live, thrilling their fans all over the world. An outstanding album!
