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Alfarspace is one of the various projects under whose monicker the portentous und hyperactive musician and compositor Hjörtur releases his music. Alfar is the Icelandic word for Elfs, also known as aelf, alf, alp, aulf, elb, elve and norns. The tales about them vary with time and geography, but in the beginning it was believed that they were originally the spirits of the dead who brought fertility to living humans. Over the centuries the stories evolved: 3 kinds of elves developed: light elves, beautiful celestial beings who live above the ground, dark elves, ugly evil spirits living underground, and intermediate elves who live in hills, beautiful but melancholic creatures. All elves make beautiful music, which humans may sometimes hear if they are wandering at night; the elves dance in circles in meadows, living rings of extragreen grass. Only if you stand in this circle can you see the elves.

Not too distant from his trademark, this is the fourth album by the Iceland born artist, preceding the other 6 he's gonna release in the next 6 years after deciding in the year 2000 of making 10 albums during the next 10 years. It starts very well with a good entwining between programming and vocals in "Take off Your Shoes"; if this song had come out 15 years ago I'd've cried out a miracle but even nowadays it works out effectively.
"I Was Born by the River" is a fairy tale narrated with electro Pop sounds; shame for the childish backup vocals. "I Am" flows sweetly and pleasantly, and things go even better with "Don't Miss the School Bus, Girl", another electro Pop track; interesting and pulsating, it reminds me of the Art of Noise.
If you're sick with the usual records played a hundred times on Christmas holidays, then you should fish "Seniorita"; it'd have been more groovy if it hadn't mantained the same pattern from beginning to end, though, whereas "Running out of Time" is easy and repetitive but attracts attention more and immediately, as well as the Rock/Goth/Pop "Yes, This Is the Way", maybe the best composition ever written by Hjörtur.
A weird base in the way of Ghosts of the Canal opens "Silence"; or if you don't know the band think of a hyperslowed version of Cypress Hill under a cocktail of acids and sedatives; quite nice the twisted solos of the synth.
"Alek Junek", a worthy example of experimental EBM, is followed by another sensational track of avant-garde electronic music, "Bumbumba"; finally, "The Corner of Yesterday", moves slowly and really seems from another time, especially thanks to broken hypnotizing vocals..

Besides a couple of additional vocalists, Alfarspace is a one-man band in every respect; a refined and powerful recording don't make me forget that 3 songs are all but irresistible, yet the remaining 8 are worth buying "Work".

MARKUS GANZHERRLICH - 20th January 2006

	Alfarspace '*Work' (Around the Corner records) MARK: 74/100*



	Alfarspace is one of the various projects under whose monicker the portentous und hyperactive musician and compositor Hjörtur releases his music. Alfar is the Icelandic word for Elfs, also known as aelf, alf, alp, aulf, elb, elve and norns. The tales about them vary with time and geography, but in the beginning it was believed that they were originally the spirits of the dead who brought fertility to living humans. Over the centuries the stories evolved: 3 kinds of elves developed: light elves, beautiful celestial beings who live above the ground, dark elves, ugly evil spirits living underground, and intermediate elves who live in hills, beautiful but melancholic creatures. All elves make beautiful music, which humans may sometimes hear if they are wandering at night; the elves dance in circles in meadows, living rings of extragreen grass. Only if you stand in this circle can you see the elves. Not too distant from his trademark, this is the fourth album by the Iceland born artist, preceding the other 6 he's gonna release in the next 6 years after deciding in the year 2000 of making 10 albums during the next 10 years. It starts very well with a good entwining between programming and vocals in "Take off Your Shoes"; if this song had come out 15 years ago I'd've cried out a miracle but even nowadays it works out effectively. "I Was Born by the River" is a fairy tale narrated with electro Pop sounds; shame for the childish backup vocals. "I Am" flows sweetly and pleasantly, and things go even better with "Don't Miss the School Bus, Girl", another electro Pop track; interesting and pulsating, it reminds me of the Art of Noise. If you're sick with the usual records played a hundred times on Christmas holidays, then you should fish "Seniorita"; it'd have been more groovy if it hadn't mantained the same pattern from beginning to end, though, whereas "Running out of Time" is easy and repetitive but attracts attention more and immediately, as well as the Rock/Goth/Pop "Yes, This Is the Way", maybe the best composition ever written by Hjörtur. A weird base in the way of Ghosts of the Canal opens "Silence"; or if you don't know the band think of a hyperslowed version of Cypress Hill under a cocktail of acids and sedatives; quite nice the twisted solos of the synth. "Alek Junek", a worthy example of experimental EBM, is followed by another sensational track of avant-garde electronic music, "Bumbumba"; finally, "The Corner of Yesterday", moves slowly and really seems from another time, especially thanks to broken hypnotizing vocals.. Besides a couple of additional vocalists, Alfarspace is a one-man band in every respect; a refined and powerful recording don't make me forget that 3 songs are all but irresistible, yet the remaining 8 are worth buying "Work". MARKUS GANZHERRLICH - 20th January 2006
	Current line-up: Hjörtur - Instruments, v., engineering, programming, mix, master and artwork Contacts: Around the Corner recs, Tycho Brahes Alle 17, 1 - 2300 Copenhagen - DK E-mail: alfarspace@hjortur.dk Official site: www.alfarspace.dk Discography: -Work (CD - 2005)