Micro Music Review - Emiliana Torrini: Jungle Drum (single)

Emiliana Torrini

Jungle Drum

rough trade

9th March, 2009

The third single released from Emiliana's 7th album Me and Armini (3rd to be released outside of Iceland) takes a gigantic step away from the niche indie-folk sound of Fisherman's Woman and plants itself firmly back into pop territory. Starting with an infectious bass line, simplistic yet foot-tappingly catchy percussion and a synth lick for good measure the song wastes no time in grabbing our attention. Emiliana quickly comes in with lyrics that, whilst abandoning the depth of her previous album are much more suitable for a poppy crowd pleaser like Jungle Drum. Alongside the catchy chorus comes some simplistic scat that adds a distinctive layer to the song. The song builds up to a climax with an impressive scat solo, ending on an abrupt note that seems to fit the passionate, frenzied sound it builds towards.

All in all, the song seems to have been purposefully engineered to be catchy; a solid memorable bass line, fast paced percussion, just enough synth licks to keep the listener on their toes, memorable lyrics and a little vocal distinction from the scat that lends to song a edge, as a single, Jungle Drum is definately worth a listen for those into their pop and a download from those with more indie leanings.

You can buy Jungle Drum at Amazon, PLAY and all good online record stores. Take a gander at her LAST.FM and MySpace

Music review - Emiliana Torrini: Fisherman's Woman

Emiliana Torrini
Fisherman's Woman
Rough Trade
31st January 2005

I didn't set out to buy Fisherman's Woman, in fact I'd neither heard of Torrini nor her previous five albums until the day of purchase (although with three of those being exclusive to the singer's native Iceland , the fourth being a promotional affair and the fifth released when I was 10 years old at a time where Eiffel 65's "Blue" dominated the UK chart, I hope you'll forgive me) it was only upon the recommendation of the store owner who I had confessed an enjoyment of "quirky, alternative, female singers" (as he diagnosed it) to that I picked up the album.

It would be easy to pigeonhole Torrini and the album with that vague, yet entirely suitable, description. Her hushed singing voice and simple instrumentals, often consisting solely of an accoustic guitar, occasionally supported by a simple layer of piano and very little else would not immediately catch the casual listener's attention. The absence of any instantly memorable hooks contribute to the potentially throwaway nature of the album for anyone who was not either an existing fan or particularly taken by the gentle, indie-folk genre.

And in truth were it not for the endearing, comfortable and homely appeal of the album I probably would have given it an initial listen and then shelved it. The consistant tone of the album, with its plucked guitar complementing Torrini's delicate vocals nicely give the overall experience of the album a dreamlike quality. Its gentleness and unobtrusive sound make it ideal for comfortable background music, which is not to say that it doesn't offer more for those who would invest time in a more in depth listening. With lyrics that focus on the theme of optimism and patience in times of loss, beautifully delivered with an apparent air of patience that ties in nicely with the understated accoustic blend that supports it, the overall sound of the album is very neatly presented and obviously crafted with a careful consideration with regards to maintaining a sound.

Overall, Fisherman's Woman is not an album with much of an appeal in the mainstream, despite its almost pop inclinations. It is far too delicate to survive outside of its intended audience but with its tight focus and consistant sound, Fisherman's Woman is a great album for those who are either existing fans or enjoy the lighter side of the genre.

You can buy Fisherman's Wife at Amazon, PLAY and all good online record stores. Take a gander at her LAST.FM and MySpace