Amiina - Puzzle

Amiina will forever be dogged by lazy comparisons to fellow countrymen Sigur Ros thanks to the way the two tread such a similar path in creativity. The newly expanded six-piece have a history that has, up until recently, been heavily interwoven into the work of the aforementioned band, providing the strings for a number of Sigur Ros releases before unleashing some original materialof their own in 2007’s inaugral ‘Kurr’.

Repeat listens to ‘Puzzle’, the band’s graceful follow up, yields a rich and rewarding sound that marches gallantly alongside, but never on the same track, as their compatriots. Determined to refrain where Sigur Ros are happy to expand, ‘Puzzle’ revels in its minimalist glory.

Subtlety is the key word here, from the opening moments of ‘Asinn’, it quickly becomes apparent that Amiina tend towards gentle electronic soundscapes as opposed to all-out bombast. Dreamy swirls of melancholic pop is what they do best, the hypnotic pulse that runs throughout opener ‘Asinn’ works beautifully, whilst the xylophone at the start of the choir-backed ‘Mambo’ is certainly a homage to Sigur Ros.

Originally a string quartet, violas and even ukeleles make their presence known throughout the eight songs on the album. Thankfully though, Amiina are conscientious enough to never impose their sound with over-orchestration. The longest track on offer here for example, ‘Sicsak’, moves wisely away from its stark synth beginnings into a gorgeous cacophony of lush orchestration.

Nonetheless, the band are not without their faults. Vocally, the album is weak, the band on the whole bravely choosing to sing not in their native tongue, but in English. ‘What Are We Waiting For?’ is ever-so-slightly marred by some rather meek singing in what is otherwise a hugely engaging and ambitious piece of work.