Hafdis Huld - Synchronised Swimmers



Icelandic popstar Hafdís Huld originally released this record in 2009 but I received an email a week or so ago from someone working with her in the States, where she's just released the record. So here I am. Of course being from Iceland there's inevitably going to be a few comparisons to you-know-who but I should really quash any of those: Björk is easily in the top 5 female artists of all time, and whilst I mean no disrespect to Huld, it'd be a little premature to compare the two.

At least because of their sound - Synchronised Swimmers is a chirpy, romantic, cute record that's all sweet little tunes and satisfying layers of folk influences. 'Action Man' is a pretty perfect blend of Mumford and Sons easy-folk and almost nursery-rhyme lyricism and vocals: the tune is a little bit similar to "Secrets" by OneRepublic but not enough to be a disappointing ripoff, if anything just a familiar chord put to good use. 'Oldest Friend' is more contemplative, less poppy - an adorable glimpse of companionship that lasts the ages.

In 'Kónguló' the pop hooks continue with a spanish guitar strumming frantically to great effect and it's quite easy to see why this was released as a single. 'One of Those Things' is a restrained affair that asserts "if you're dancing and nobody's there, enjoy the fact that you don't even care" , amongst other drops of advice that Glee is probably keen to spew out, all the while an air of regret for missed opportunities lingers ("It's just one of those things I wish someone had told me"). 'Boys and Perfume' is a little bit forgettable, neither catchy enough to persist at your subconscious or pretty enough to stick out.


The title track however is a step back into the wonderland, with a riff that Fleet Foxes would probably be proud of and Huld's vocals performing as perfectly as the subject matter. 'Daisy' plods along a little unimaginatively but too cute to cause any real offence - and by now the fact that I have left BBC2 on, and there's a cookery show with a fondue set, is beginning to bug my sweet tooth. Having a track titled 'Time of My Life' is usually a good sign for it being good (see Patrick Wolf, Dirty Dancing and Green Day) and this follows in their footsteps, sounding a little bit like Seventh Tree era Goldfrapp.

The last of the overwhelmingly cute song titles comes in 'Homemade Lemonade' which packs one of the album's catchiest folk tunes. Things then suddenly turn a bit dark in 'I Almost Know A Criminal' which on the face of it isn't particularly exciting. I know a fair few. But the inclusion of whispered vocals and synths welcomely varies things up a little: still retaining her syrupy voice but to lyrics of "deal with the devil" and insomniacs. The Robyn comparisons get a little extra weight with 'Robot Robot' given the Swede's recent electronic obsessions, and Huld only ever really comes off as a copycat here which is a shade disappointing.


An unknown man makes a guest appearance on 'Vampires' which is quite easily one of the catchiest tunes that holds back on the sugarcoating for genuine harmony. We finish with 'Winter Sun', at which point Huld suddenly asserts "somehow it hurts to be happy" which comes as a bit of a shock, like seeing Elmo with a heroin syringe or something. But the track is so serenely optimistic with its allusion to the seasons changing that it almost convinces you that, just for now, all is right with the world.

Essentially if you mix the cute, quirky lyricism of Kate Nash with the cheeriness of 2007 Goldfrapp, in a folk festival, you get Hafdis. It's not particularly revolutionary, and some might go as far to say it's cheesy, but Synchronised Swimmers is so generously sprinkled with good tunes, accomplished songwriting and hooks that it's a little like a perfect cupcake. Of course it's not going to sustain you for a long time, but it's beautiful whilst it lasts. Now I'm hungry.

Rating: 7.5/10
Highlights: Winter Sun, Action Man, I Almost Know A Criminal, Oldest Friend, Synchronised Swimmers, Vampires
Avoid: Robot Robot, Boys & Perfume

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