Hildur GuðnadóttirHildur Guðnadóttir's second solo effort consists of a series on lush, rich-sounding pieces focussing on her cello playing, but also featuring zither, bass, organ, clarinets and some subtle electronic treatment. The mostly short compositions included here occasionally stray into a rhythmic throb, but more often consist of long sustained drones. The space Guðnadóttir allows for the overtones of her strings to play and mingle may even appeal to those addicted to SunnO)))- style amplifier overload, but the focus here is on melody and warm, melancholic harmony. Despite the brevity of the individual tracks, Without Sinking never seems hurried. Each statement gradually unfolds with the sense of purpose, even inevitability, of a flower opening in stop-motion film. Many moments here are unashamedly pretty, with tinkling zither and sonorous cello notes combining in a way that reminds me a little of the instrumental passages in Björk's Vespertine. There is also a deep sense of seriousness and craft underpinning these delicate constructions. Seeming to draw from a well of inspiration that includes both the lengthly tradition of European art music and an engagement with contemporary experimental ideas, this disc combines a polished surface with considerable depth. -- nick ilott. :: Hildur Guðnadóttir/Without Sinking - touchmusic.org/Cargo.
