Beach Sloth

Stafrænn Hákon – Prammi 7.3

                Stafrænn Hákon’s ‘Prammi’ is divided into two equal parts. The first part is based around relatively sweet ambient pieces. Much of the album is made up of these moments. For the second half though ‘Prammi’ is indie rock wrapped inside a blanket. Each one of these songs conveys a strong sense of warmth. Vocals are generally not necessary. Without saying a word Prammi manages to convey a great deal through affectionate tones and textures. Every time vocals do appear it simply adds another texture more than creates a distraction. These are songs to get wrapped up in as opposed to simply existing as background music. 

                ‘Klump’ is an early triumph in the album. A nice steady beat and guitars it is particularly effective in creating a sense of true comfort. Eventually it bursts out into a big beautiful thing. This is perhaps the most ‘rock’ that ‘Prammi’ gets throughout most of the disc, even indulging in some heavier sound. ‘A Personal Voyage to Meat Planet’ is the calmest track on the whole album. Less about melody, this song is more about a dreamlike state. While there are multiple ambient interludes placed throughout the album, this one is the best one. By the end there is the sweet ‘Lusher’ and the twee ‘Rækjuháls’ the latter of which references earlier elements in the album. 

                One of the key benefits of the album altogether is the strong sense of unity. Sonically it is a consistent album. Whether Stafrænn Hákon is focusing on an ambient or more active song the result is a coherent whole of an album.