Back in 2007 this Icelandic band impressed me on record and live with their debut album SLEEPDRUNK SEASONS. Lack of airplay here in the UK meant that many music-lovers were not aware of the album (a Shakenstir album of the year), one that some would say could only have come out of Iceland. Hjaltalin is a 7-piece indie rock-pop band with two lead singers, and a host of instruments including piano, bassoon and violin. And therein lies a clue to the nature of this record. Siggi and Högni are vocalists of the highest quality, so add fine songs and great instrumentals and you have something quite special and a band capable of going much further musically - which is precisely what they have accomplished with TERMINAL.

At first listen I thought that album number two is very different from album number one. But after several listens, I changed my mind although the vast orchestral sounds make for a much more epic theatrical sound. Imagine a pop-rock theatre musical and you’ll come pretty close to describing this record. Opener ‘Suitcase Man’ opens with a bassoon passage that sounds like a massive ship sounding a fog warning or coming in to dock, then the orchestra joins in, drums roll and violins scrape in unison as the pace quickens. It takes almost two-minutes for Högni’s voice to arrive, and when it does it takes one breath away as it takes on an operatic style. There’s a huge melody that drives a magnificent track that is both inventive and just about as epic as you can get.

‘Sweet Impressions’ takes a calmer, contemplative route with less of the orchestra and more of the wonderful expressive qualities of both singers. But it’s also a track that gives space for the instruments to shine alone. Superb. ‘Feels Like Sugar’ is an altogether darker track with Siggi featuring on vocals and showing how good her voice is. The pace is upbeat, the melody of huge proportions, and it suddenly hits you that this is a much darker record that would appear sonically and superficially. In this record of standout tracks, this one, for me,
is ‘the one.’ ‘Song For Incidental Music’ is even darker with its ocean deep instrumental vibe, and Högni’s cautionary, almost threatening vocal. It’s a song that is utterly compelling.

‘Montabone’ leads off with grand piano before each vocalist taking turns to communicate a message of despair and hope. ‘Stay By You’ is a simple friendship/love ballad which perks up during the multi-layered vocal choruses, while ‘Hooked On Chili’ is a more complex beats-driven song that ambles along like a burbling stream in the verses before it turns into a crashing waterfall choruses. ‘Sonnett For Matt’ moves along at glacial pace and in the beauty stakes comes out on top. Hogni’s vocal is the most expressive and moving here, while the subtle instrumentation coudn’t be more perfect. ‘7 Years’ is a soulful, simple ballad with another glorious vocal from Siggi. The choruses arrive to liven things up quite dramatically - another example of the musical complexity on show here, and the record’s theatrical feel. ‘Water Poured In Wine’ has a rocky vibe before final song ‘Vanity Music’ arrives in symphonic and modern operatic style to close a quite extraordinary record.

It’s also the most emotional song here and will have some listeners in tears…

So, will this album secure airplay on our mediocre airwaves? The simple answer is yes and in the only way possible - the whole album played on our Shake Sessions. For those thousands of you who bought the Jonsi album, add this and don’t worry about listening to it before you buy - JUST BUY! And then buy the band’s first album…

4.5/5