Customer Reviews

Englaborn

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jonhann Johannsson's first solo release, Englaborn, is one of the most fantastic and amazing things I've heard in a long time. The only other piece of information I know of Jonhannsson is his eclectic other group, Apparat Organ Quartet, is pretty friggin' good. However, if you like music in that vein, then this is not your ticket. This entire album sounds like a string quartet with synthetic overtones, making me believe Johannsson wrote the music, had the quartet play, and then put his own intricities in.

Needless to say, they are nothing short of fantastic. This entire disc sounds like a desperate movie score for the twenty-first century, with strings haunting back on old and dying memories. Amazingly, this entire cd feels beyond cohesive, with each track playing it's part and paying into amazing songwriting. The true beauty of this cd is the vast space within it: there is so much missing from each song that you are forced to think, and even though you may listen to it passively, you'll never be struck with a moment of dischord. Blissful and amazing arranging of music keeps us going, with only a few tracks incorporating more than just the strings/piano. The emotional content is provided by the listener: the light descends and twinkling tones of the music is entirely conducive to your own emotional status, and therefore, this album is entirely yours, regardless of what other people think of it.

Johannsson has created a real masterpiece here that will be overlooked. If you are a fan of music that exists not just to be beautiful, but is beautiful in every aspect, look no further.

read the title for this review. that basically sums it up. modern. minimal. classical. sparse and droning in parts. highly tense and melodic in other parts. a few minor electric nuances here and there. fans of max richter would probably enjoy this album. if you liked johannsson's other albums you'll probably like this one too. this album gets a 4.5 out of 5 stars from me (and not just 4). recommended.

I have to disagree with the reviewer who is unable to find anything memorable in this album - every piece is beautifully melodic. While Englaborn is definitely more of a minimalist approach than, say, Fordlandia, it is by no means any less evocative. Johannson is among the most capable of modern, "post-classical" composers I've heard.

Also: If you're fortunate enough to enjoy a live Johann Johannson performance you won't be disappointed... .

Highly Recommended!

After what I felt was a spectacular first experience with the music of Johann Johannsson in the album IBM 1401: A Users Manual, I decided that my next stop would be with his first album, Englabörn. I was not disappointed. This is a poignant, often melancholy selection of tracks that very skilfully weaves deceptively simple themes and variations through a number of electronic and acoustic iterations.

I must admit I found this album merely fantastic, as opposed to the spectacular experience of IBM 1401. But compared to most of the music being produced these days, this is still a definite winner in my view. It gets a 9 out of 10, while IBM 1401 goes to 11.

A real highlight for me was the fluttering of a string quartet in the track "Ég sleppi şér aldrei". A real regret, however, was getting an MP3 album rather a physical CD with liner notes -- if there are any decent ones on this CD. I understand that this is music that was adapted from a play, but I'd like to know more about the story or concepts behind the music.

In whatever form you choose, this is definitely great post-minimalist music. Johannsson doesn't shy away from tugging at the heart strings with sadly romantic, wistfully nostalgic-sounding material. Loved it.

A friend recommended this to me, but it's way too middle of the road. I'll put it on shuffle for the background music I listen to while at the office, where I don't want music that draws attention to itself or makes me think. Wouldn't really recommend. Theres not much that makes this special or memorable.

Well, where do we start!
I'll start off with the negative points of the album to get them out the way... Wait a minute, there aren't any!!

Yes, you guessed it, Englaborn is STUNNING!!! From the chilling landscapes of "Joi & Karen" to the volcanic eruption that is "eing og venjulegt fólk", Englaborn has it ALL!!!

Englaborn will engulf you, start to finish! Don't beleive me? Explain why the critical aclaim of this album has ranged from album of the month to album of the year! Well actually, don't! You see, this is far from an album of a month or year. This is THE album, THE best album of the century, ever.

This is the album that might have been made if Mozart and Beethoven had been resurrected in the 1970s and written a scoreshhet whilst listeniung to pink floyd and taking lsd.
This is Electro-Organic music at it's best! And if you don't like this, you daren't dare call yourself a fan of the Electro-Organic genre.

Yes, although the mainstream hasn't picked up YET! This album will have a larger effect than Elvis & The Beetles...

COMBINED!!!!

If I could of given this more than 5 stars, but restricted by amazon, my rating: 5 Icebergs! Because this albums coool, as cool as Iceland in winter in fact... Johann Johannsson's hooommmellaaand!!!

A new king has been (Engla)born, and his name... Johannsson, Johan Johannsson!