Kurr

Amiina, the four piece female band from Reykyavik, Iceland, have perhaps been best known to date as collaborators with Sigur Ros. They also perform with the band as their string section during live performances, but have been making their own unique music since 2004 and performing as a band since 2005, touring around the world as well as frequently opening for Sigur Rós. They have previously released two limited edition EPs. Kurr is an extraordinary debut album that highlights the bands magical approach to composition.

Though classically trained, the four women behind amiina Sólrún Sumarlidadóttir, María Sigfúsdóttir, Edda Olafsdottir and Hildur Ársælsdóttir refuse to be constrained by form, content or even instrumentation. Though it's true that they started with individually defined roles as a string quartet this was never going to be how they would set about making a record of their own. In amiina there are no specific assignments: no official bass player, drummer, guitarist or singer. Alongside more traditional instrument like guitars, keyboards and mandolins KURR features a saw, Celtic harps, metalophones, singing wine glasses, xylophones, glockenspiels, harmoniums, bells, table harps, kalimbas, cuadros, celests, harpsichords, Rhodes pianos, synthesisers, trumpets, trombones, tubas, clarinets, drums, cellos, violas and violins. Oh, and a computer.