VAR - Moments
Reykjavík, Iceland post-punk outfit VAR recently unveiled the music video for “Moments,” from their recent album The Never-Ending Year via Spartan Records.
VAR
“Moments” is about basking in every moment with those for whom you care.
VAR’s genesis occurred in 2013, as the solo project of Júlíus Óttar, who before long comprehended his sonic vision for VAR would be enhanced by adding additional musicians. He recruited his wife, Myrra Rós (synths, vocals), as well as his brother, Egill Björgvinsson (bass), along with Arnór Jónasson (guitar), and Andri Freyr Þorgeirsson (drums).
The band’s first release was their EP, Vetur, followed by performing constantly. After a time, other commitments impeded Myrra Rós’ continued participation, so she moved on, while drummer Andri Freyr Þorgeirsson was replaced by Sigurður Ingi Einarsson. These changes shifted VAR’s sound to a new direction, encompassing more graceful melodicism with savors of effulgent, ghostly dream-pop tinctures.
It’s a marvelously tantalizing voice, rife with gossamer sonic tendrils, drifting and gliding on diaphanous textures.
It’s a sound suggestive of The Cranberries fused with Sigur Ros, only more fluid and rife with honeyed textures.
“Moments” opens on gently gleaming guitars, followed by a warm escalation of the melody, which then drops down to a shimmering coloration topped by Júlíus Óttar’s dreamy, ethereal voice, suffused with creamy elegance. It’s a marvelously tantalizing voice, rife with gossamer sonic tendrils, drifting and gliding on diaphanous textures.
In their interview with Essentially Pop’s Lisa Hafey, the band explained why “Moments” and other songs on the album “called for English lyrics,” saying, “When working on songs the melody often has no lyrics, to begin with. When working on lyrics, the rhythm of the Icelandic language sometimes simply does not fall into place with the melody. Some songs were even intended to be sung in Icelandic but there was always something that didn’t feel quite right. When the lyrics were changed to English everything fell into place and we were happy with the outcome.”
Beautifully wrought, “Moments” puts on display the wraithlike flow of VAR’s superb music, simultaneously translucent yet magnificent.
