I didn't realise that was a third act playing tonight so it is something of a surprise when I enter the hall and find Elinborg on stage. She is similar in style to Eivør but is more focused on the poppier elements of her sound. The first track I catch is ambient pop meets trance and when she opens up vocally it sounds really powerful. The second track is less rousing, being electronic pop with a slight OMD feel. The following track has a slight industrial edge and is much more atmospheric. The more atmospheric songs are definitely more successful, and thankfully this seems to make up the majority of her setlist. Elinborg has a lovely voice with a good range and a nice expressive quality. The final track 'Blóð' is the best song in her short set. It is quiet in the verse with a brooding, atmospheric Twin Peaks quality which leads to a louder, heavier, stomping chorus.
Ásgeir plays mature European pop which has the feel of the more sophisticated Eurovision acts such as Gjon's Tears or Duncan Laurence. It's beautifully layered with electronic beats, vocal effects and neat synthesised guitar lines, and it is captivating. 'Dreaming' has more of a gospel soul influence but is just as compelling. He takes up the guitar for the new, unreleased track 'Julia' which is more in Jeff Buckley territory and is utterly magical. His voice has plenty of character. He also has a great range, and his upper register is really quite beautiful. One vocoder heavy track comes across as beautiful robotic soul. Ásgeir adds electronic elements and stuttering beats sparingly but when he does they add different textures and the effect is stunning.
Eivør opens her set with 'Jorðatrá', a poppier take on the norse folk that Heilung specialise in. The electronic beats are propulsive and give it a fair bit of power. A bodhrán drum is brought out for the ethereal pop of 'Salt' which has a heavy Kate Bush influence. 'Gullspunnin' is dreamy and mesmeric, like much of what she plays. 'Í Tokuni' adds distorted guitars and creepy troll vocals to the mix and veers much closer to folk metal. It has a grandiose mystical power. The trio of tracks she performs from 'The Last Kingdom' soundtrack showcases the epic, cinematic nature of her music. 'Let It Come' is yet more Kate Bush style avant pop and it is magnificent. Eivør's voice positively soars during 'Boxes' and the high pitched spikes add a distinct individual character. 'So Close To Being Free' is moody trip hop and the thunderous climax is excellent. The sparse and glacial 'Us And Them' sees Ásgeir join her onstage for a spellbinding duet. 'Enn' is probably the closest she gets to the norse folk of Heilung or Kalandra. Elinborg joins onstage for a highly dramatic 'Upp Úr Øskuni'. The set gets heavier towards the end with the last few tracks being much more metalcentric. The strange stringed instrument (possibly a talharpa) they use during the hypnotic regular set closer 'Trøllabundin' creates an ominous growl. The encore 'Falling Free' is an emotional way to close the set, with its Kate Bush style ethereal balladry. Captivating.
Eivør ****
Ásgeir *****
Elinborg ****
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