Jóhann Jóhannsson has been called by critics “Iceland's foremost genre-crossing multi-instrumentalist” (Irish Times), “one of the bright lights in the already talent rich Icelandic underground music scene” (Aquarius Records), “the most compelling composer working today”, and “An important figure in Iceland’s new music scene at the turn of the millennium”. (All Music Guide).
His stately, slow-building and hauntingly melodic music, which frequently combines electronics with classical orchestrations, has been quietly bewitching listeners since he released his first solo record Englabörn in 2002 on the well respected British label Touch. The record was re-released in 2007 by 4AD, by which time its reputation and influence had grown. Englabörn was written for string quartet, percussion and electronics, and Jóhann’s second album, Virthulegu Forsetar (2004), for brass ensemble, drones and percussion. Both releases met substantial critical acclaim, and found their way onto many critics’ end of year lists. whilst his third album and his first for 4AD, IBM 1401 - A User's Manual (2006), was his most ambitiously orchestrated composition to date involving a 60 piece string orchestra and incorporating electronics and vintage reel-to-reel recordings of an IBM 1401 mainframe computer. Jóhann’s most recent album, Fordlandia (4AD), was released in November 2008 to wide critical acclaim. Another orchestral album with a sound that expands upon his earlier work while breaking new ground, Fordlandia combines a darkly romantic minimalism and baroque counterpoint with Krautrock, post-rock, glitch electronics and melodies inspired by North European folk music. Although mostly instrumental, Jóhann's work often involves complex narratives, which often deal with man's relationship with the world of machines and decaying and obsolete technology.
Jóhann..s first album, Englabörn, was derived from music written for an Icelandic play of the same name, composed for string quartet, piano, organ, glockenspiel and percussion. These elements were processed and manipulated, adding delicate electronic accents to the otherwise entirely acoustic recordings. One song, "Odi et Amo", is a setting of the famous poem by Catullus.
"This first solo album from Jóhann Jóhannsson is absolutely beautiful, and it has only become more so over the past few months, sustaining me for long periods of time when other music just wouldn't do the trick."
[Pitchfork Media Andy Beta].
Read more reviews of Englabörn and Virthulegu forsetar here.
Jóhanns second album for Touch, Virthulegu Forsetar was one hour-long piece for 11 brass players, percussion, electronics, organs and piano. The piece had its live debut in Hallgrimskirkja, a large church in Reykjavik which is also the tallest building in Iceland; the performance was named "the most memorable musical event of 2003" in Iceland's leading newspaper. Virthulegu Forsetar shares Englaborn's quiet, elegiac beauty, but replaces the brevity of the first album's exquisite miniatures with a extended sweep of sound that reveals a long, slow process of evolution.
"It's hard to classify this beautiful album by Icelandic composer Johannsson. On this, his second album, he employs an orchestra of 11 brass players, glockenspiel, piano and organ, with added bells and electronics; so it lies somewhere between classical, ambient music and experimental soundtrack."
(The Observer [Kitty Empire])
"Virthulegu Forsetar's reflexive musical and temporal entropy, both a degenerative and regenerative impulse, achieves an astonishing visceral force and urgency : Johannsson's genius is to infuse his very postmodern music with a rare expressive intensity. Sublime."
(Irish Times [Jocelyn Clarke])
Jóhann has been collaborating with the dancer and choreographer Erna Omarsdottir for several years; together they have performed a dance piece called IBM 1401, A Users Manual in more than 40 cities around Europe. When Jóhann signed to 4AD in 2005, he immediately set about reworking this music; originally written for string quartet, organ and electronics, IBM 1401, A Users Manual is much more expansive in its new incarnation. A 60 piece string orchestra was recorded at Pragues legendary Smecky Studio and the four original movements were joined by a completely new finale. The final mix, which incorporates electronics and vintage reel-to-reel recordings of an IBM 1401 mainframe computer, took place in Reykjavik at the beginning of 2006.
Music for films and theatre figure prominently in Jóhann’s work. He has composed music for 8 feature films in Iceland as well as in Denmark, Mexico and the US, in addition to short films, a TV series, numerous documentaries, theatre productions and several contemporary dance works.
Jóhann's many other projects include membership of the group Apparat Organ Quartet - hailed by Neil Strauss in the New York Times as being "as innovative and meticulous as Sigur Ros, but who sound nothing like it." The band was featured in a segment of PBSs Frontline show in 2003. He is also a founder member of the Icelandic label / think tank / art collective Kitchen Motors, and the band Evil Madness.
Jóhann has collaborated extensively with other artists; he's worked with Marc Almond (on the Stranger Things album), Barry Adamson, Pan Sonic, The Hafler Trio, Jaki Liebezeit, David Tibet, Baby Dee, Laetitia Sadier and many others. After the success of IBM 1401, A Users Manual, Johann's collaboration with the choreographer and dancer Erna Omarsdottir continued in 2005 with a new piece entitled Mysteries Of Love.
Jóhann has toured with his music all over the world with his ensemble, which includes a string quartet and a percussionist, in addition to performances with orchestras and brass ensembles.
Here is a new video by Magnus Helgason for Melodia (Guidelines for a Space Propulsion Device based on Heim's Quantum Theory):
Hello! Thanx for friendship! Great concert yesterday evening in Ferrara!!! Love your music. hope to hear your wonderful compositions again in my country. All the best ^_^
