Darla
(DRL343: 708527034316/DRL343-3: /DRL343-4: /vogorcd18: 780392085105)
Release date: 05/24/2019
Genre: Post rock, Ambient
$21.00
Limited edition of 300 translucent blue vinyl LP.
The Icelandic band Stafrænn Hákon was born in 2001 as a lo-fi experimental project and has been steadily evolving ever since. Today its a full band which incidentally has released its 11th album titled Aftur. Aftur follows 2017's self-released instrumental album Hausi and two Darla released full length albums Eternal Horse and Sanitas.
After Stafrænn Hákon released its instrumental album Hausi in 2017, the band decided to delve into the melodic aspect of music, focusing on harmonized vocals and subtle, yet dynamic instrumentation.
The band´s trademark soundscape is clearly recognizable on Aftur with floaty electric guitars, voice, subtle atmospheres and acoustic textures such as harps and piano.
The album Aftur features 10 songs in total. The main vocalist in Stafrænn Hákon is, as before, the affable architect Magnús Freyr Gíslason. The Dutchman Minco Eggersman, a long time collaborator appears on one song and the Icelandic singer/songwriter Benni Hemm Hemm appears on one song as well.
Aftur can be described as a magical musical journey through Stafrænn Hákon´s subtle atmospheric world and melodic/ambient approach to rock and pop music.
"Maybe not as much crescendos and distortion blowout going on on this one BUT I believe there are some nice dynamics in the instrumental songs and some of the vocal songs like Bakki and Mýri... I wanted to express the smoothness behind the band with this record, meaning the sound not to be filled with too many explosive delayed/reverbed guitars, but more focus on melodies and some harmonies and play around with that. This is also the first record we've recorded entirely through some PRO quality gear :-) but since we are coming from this post-rock roots sort of... the music is written that way and I just love mixing some vocals and melodies into that context i suppose." - Ólafur Josephsson
Stafrænn Hákon´s core consist today of 5 members; the two guitarists Ólafur Josephsson and Lárus Sigurðsson, Árni Þór Árnason who plays bass guitar, Róbert Már Runólfsson who plays the drums and aforementioned Magnús Freyr who is the main vocalist. Together they create a rather tight, melodic sound world. Suffice to say Aftur is the bands most refined and mature album to date.
1. Aftur
2. Bakki
3. Tene
4. Juli
5. Myri
6. Kjarr
7. Vagn
8. Kastast
9. Horizon
10. Hann Bognar
$9.00
Preorder 2xLP and get instant full album download including bonus tracks.Worldwide digital release date via all services: 10/21/2022 2xLP release date: 2/24/2023Remastered by Jonas Munk. Three bonus...
$9.00
Re-press arriving this week Thursday, 1/26/2023.Limited edition of 500 x fluffy little cloud color vinyl 2xLP in gatefold with original cover image, bonus tracks. Available now...
$8.00
Order 2xLP and get instant full album MP3 (320 kpbs) download now. Limited edition of 300 black 2xLP in gatefold.CD in Digipak. Sorry! Although we offered a multi-color variant the...
$9.00
Release date: 5/27/2022 Preorder 2xLP and/or CD get instant download.Three previously unreleased tracks + Aah! Sealife and Classic Cinnamon Mint. Limited edition of 1000 black vinyl...
$9.00
Order 2xLP or CD and get instant download. Digital release date 2/11/20222xLP and CD release date: 3/18/2022Expanded edition. Bonus tracks.Limited edition of 750 metallic silver 2xLP...
$8.00
Vinyl release date 10/1/2021.CD and digital release date: 5/28/2021.Bonus 7" tracks "Here Comes the Sea" and "Ravers Beware" are now available here for download and all...
$10.00
Available now:Two new color vinyl re-presses.Limited edition of 1000 "Sunburst" transparent orange with red and black swirl 3xLP.Limited edition of 1000 clear with metallic gold 3xLP. Digital...
$15.00
Release date: 12/4/2020CD in digipak.Darla Records is honored to offer Another Flower, a new record by two singularly and sonically recognizable masters of lush beauty and minimalism...