Árstíðir – Vetrarsól

Árstíðir, the Icelandic folk band that has gained international recognition for its distinctive sound and atmospheric arrangements, has created an extraordinary a cappella album with Vetrarsól – Voices of the Winter Sun. This collection of 12 songs offers a deep insight into traditional Icelandic vocal and choral music – full of emotion and cultural depth.

The band gained international recognition in 2013 when a video of their spontaneous a cappella performance of Heyr himna smiður—a hymn from 1208 written by Kolbeinn Tumason and set to music by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson in 1972—went viral in a German train station. This powerful performance shows why the band is appreciated worldwide.

This anthem is now also featured on their new album. The moving Bæn einstæðingsins also finds its place, a song based on a poem by the Icelandic hermit Gísli á Uppsölum that captures the loneliness of a secluded life.

A particular highlight is Ljósfaðir, a composition arranged especially for the album by Sigurður Flosason, which takes the band into previously unheard soundscapes.

The album was recorded both at the band’s studio in Reykjavík and at Studio Nashville, located in an old television studio in Iceland. Vetrarsól – Voices of the Winter Sun reflects the magic and tranquility of the Icelandic winter sun and showcases the band’s fascinating soundscape in its purest form. A must-have for fans of a cappella art and Icelandic musical tradition.

Tracklist:

1. Heyr himna smiður
2. Ó, mín flaskan fríða
3. Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu
4. Ljósfaðir
5. Grafskrift
6. Land míns föður
7. Bæn einstæðingsins
8. Ísland farsælda frón
9. Hatið fer að höndum ein
10. Smávinir fagrir
11. Hjá lygnri móðu
12. Góða veislu gjöra skal