I was hoping we could see Hafdis Huld Live on her recent trip to the UK, but it was impossible to do so, so instead we’ll take a listen to her most recent album ‘Home’ instead. The former GusGus singer has released her 3rd solo album, and a follow up to the 2010 album ‘Synchronised Swimmers’.
It’s a simple folk pop album full of delicious sweet tunes, and Hafdis Huld has a voice so perfect and delicate that our only worry is that singing might damage it. The Guardian once described her as having a voice ‘like Bjork crossed with Cerys Matthews on a diet of candyfloss’,
‘Queen Bee’ sets the tone really well, with intricate guitar, a sweet pop tune and cute lyrics - ‘somewhere in between the trees, where the grass is green, lives a man with his queen’. ‘Lucky’ is a perfect pop song, whilst ‘Home’ is more reflective, simple and plaintive in its style. But through songs such as ‘Wolf’ and ‘Little Light’ a steady stream of likeable and apparent effortless tunes keep coming.
Hafdis Huld is an artist very comfortable and confident in her music, shes not trying to be anyone she isn’t, or trying to write lyrics overly complex or profound. Her songs may be too sugary sweet for some, but there will always be a place for her out there, she writes songs that people like, and we’ll make sure we get to see her on her next UK visit.
Nordic Music Review 7.5/10