Yndi Halda

"beautiful shimmering post-rock that gives Sigur Ros a run for their money...expect big things." - Rock Sound

"yndi halda create a wonderful forty-five minutes of music, spread across three monolithic tracks. Each track is utterly beautiful" - Decoy Music

"simply jawdropping...noise swept beauty" - UK Experimental Bands

"Remember that time you listened to that Sigur Rós song and it reminded you of your saddest memory ever?...amazing...the whole thing is just dripping with emotion...Some of the most impacting and profound music to come from an amateur band, let alone any band, in years." - Sputnik Music

"pure beauty" - Disconnected Press

"transcends the normal limitations of music... A beautiful portrait of unfathomable radiance" - Decoy Music

“I have no doubt that your attention will never depart from the sonic assault of musical brilliance” - Underground Review

Face down in the carpet, left arm crumpled under my ribs, right arm protruding like a dead branch jutting from the grizzled oak that stands atop some fairytale hillock, tongue hanging, a slight drooling: this is me, eleven something pm, last night. I’m awoken only when the girlfriend gives me a kick to the midriff and utters an “Oi, how was the gig?”

“Whaaa…?” Russell Brand is somersaulting his skinny frame about my tellybox, sticking a phallic microphone into the faces of reality television worshippers; there are pins and needles from my left little pinkie to its corresponding shoulder. “Uuuh, gig?”

Flashbacks: a cool pint glass against a sweaty brow, conversations about the pluses and minuses of living in north London, Dutch headliners taking their life into their hands by stepping into Gray’s Inn Road, camera in hand, to get a picture of the evening’s venue. The Water Rats is transformed into a sauna, attendee moans and whimpers near drowning out the noise conjured by Twin Zero and Textures, the growling metal acts that comprise the key draw for the assembled black-t-shirted hordes. But, once home, its not the performances of these bands that spring to mind through an alcohol-and-heat-induced haze: it’s relative unknowns Yndi Halda that leave a permanent impression.

The Kent quintet take to the stage under a barrage of chatter and clatter, the chinking of glasses and wiping of trickling beads; once a guitar is coaxed into muted action, though, an immediate hush descends. Textural tones flutter from speakers either side of a stage filled by characters that look absolutely unlikely to move the uninitiated: a few members sport shorts, and at least is wearing flip-flops. Aesthetically they’re more Weekend At Bernies than Some Kind Of Monster, but theirs is a music that requires no window dressing: once the sole guitar, still weaving spectral waves of sonic majesty, is joined by violin, bass and drums, the effect is astounding. It’s the hottest day of the year both outside and in this sweltering room, but my arms are alive with gooseflesh.

Structurally, there’s little on offer tonight that the studied post-rock (sorry, but lazy pigeonholing is so now) student won’t have heard a handful of times already – songs are layered slowly, sections linked with skill but telegraphed by tell-tale actions: the switching of drumsticks, for example, from broad-ended beaters to their thinner, louder brethren. But originality isn’t a necessity when the execution of these twin fifteen-minute songs is so perfect, so wonderfully pitched at emotions that have no right to be stirring in such an inhospitable environment. Come each smooth sailing from convulsing waters to calmer seas, the crowd inhales deep: partially to send additional oxygen to a brain still trying to make sense of the last few minutes; partially because nobody remembered to breathe at all while such bloody-minded bludgeoning was before them.

Come the thirty-minute mark, the set’s rumbling climax, the violinist’s bow is all but destroyed; the decision to opt for shorts over full-length leg-wear appears to have been wise, too, as while the audience enthusiastically applauds from a pool of their own making, Yndi Halda don’t seem to have been affected by the insane heat held within these four walls. Minutes later they’re outside on the street, chatting to friends old and new, making the most of the time they have before piling into a van bound for Stoke-on-Trent. The next night will see them perform in Exeter, leading this writer to believe that either the band’s geographical sense is shot to fuck or they simply live to play.

From my living room floor, vivid memories seem aged beyond their mere minutes-long lifespan: Yndi Halda’s music already feels like an old friend, a drug that’s been coursing through these veins for years; that they're already greatly impressive is a fact humbled, rather, by the obvious certainty that they've the potential to one day be peerless. I mumble, pushing myself upright on my one good hand: “Oh, yeah, the gig. It was good… really good. I need to sleep, now.”

Rarely has post-show slumber been so serene, so devoid of annoying thoughts of the next morning’s work and its accompanying stresses. No better praise can ever be offered the way of a new-to-you band, surely. - Drowned in Sound

here is something exciting about watching an instrumental guitar band in full swing. Devoid of vocals, these bands have to get every ounce out of their instruments, to convey the same passion. When it works, there is no other feeling like it.

One of those instrumental bands is Yndi Halda, and before you dismiss them as "another post-rock band", wait until you listen to what I have to say. This group of five friends have been creating such a buzz over the web over the last year, that I had to go and see what they were all about. Before I get started, I must mention that I consider Mogwai the benchmark in this genre, and so (unfairly) compare similar bands and performances to them. I think it is also worth noting that 'post-rock' of late has become quite stale and deriviative, with only a handful of acts pushing the boundaries out. Port-Royal and Epic45 are two of these bands who are shying away from the quiet/loud formula, and trying new things. However, when you see a band as passionate as Yndi Halda, perceptions tend to change.

First things first, though, the openers, and local act, The Site Of Future Rome, did a good job of keeping the 100-strong crowd enetertained. Their cello-driven instrumental music was engaging, with interesting time signatures and gorgeous, sweeping melodies. They will be touring all over Scotland towards the end of the month, read the tour info and listen to some music here.

Despite Icelandic moniker, headliners Yndi Halda have very little in common with Sigur Ros. They're sound is heavily influenced by the likes of Godspeed! You Black Emperor. People may accuse them as being copyists, but I would say they are honouring the Canadian legends. You cannot help, but be swept away by the passion of the live performance.

For such a young group, they are all technically gifted musicians. Violins, guitars, bass and drums combine to give an epic, swooning sound, that suggests huge potential. With only one Ep availible, this band have got plenty more left to say.

Their music has an almost celebratory or triumphant feel to it. Opening track, "Dash and Blast", easily demonstrates this. Weaving from one part to the other, this 15 minute epic is notable for it insanely catchy violin hook and loud bursting guitars.

Despite been let down by a small and inadequate sound system, the band summoned up every ounce of their energy and skill to put in an awesome performance. They would lay waste to a larger venue!.

"We Flood Empty Lakes", from the band's Ep, was another highlight. This effort showed why the youngsters from Canterbury, Kent are placed at number 2 in Decoymusic's Top 50 instrumental releases. Beating the likes of Sigur Ros, Explosions In The Sky and Red Sparowes.

Its not just about the music, though. The band have a fantastic D.I.Y ethic, like playing last night's gig for free or handmaking each of the Ep's individually. They are not even afraid to post negative reviews on their myspace site either. Its either naivety or confidence in their own abilities. I think the latter.

They also easily overcame the chatter of the punters in the bar within minutes of starting and seemed to have the audience's attention for the whole of the set. Closing song, the frantic and taut, "Illuminate My Heart, Darling", was quite simply jaw-dropping. Especially towards the end, where the violins and guitars wrestled with the drums and bass in a dramatic climax. In this kind of form there is only one winner..... The listener.

Yndi Halda, a band with enormous hype surrounding them. Could they live up to it. In short.....Yes!!!!!!!. Recently signed up, I expect big things in the future. - Boring Machines Disturbs Sleep