Buzzin Music

Emiliana Torrini - Me And Armini

Every now and then I am introduced to an artist or an album that I had missed on its original release. This morning I am retrospectively listening to Me And Armini by Emiliana Torrini which was originally released in September 2008.

On such occasions I feel both excited and annoyed.  Excited to hear something good amongst the waves of faceless branded rubbish and third rate copycats; and annoyed that I let such a peach of an album escape a listen on its original release.

Emiliana Torrini has a most beautiful, infectious voice.  It reminds me more of singer/songwriter Raissa Khan-Panni of The Mummers than her Icelandic compatriot Bjork and had me thinking of Rickie Lee Jones too.

Me And Armini is a wonderful album with gorgeous songs that move between acoustic folk and an intellectual pop not found in a majority of contemporary commercial music. At times acoustic and sultry, tracks like the happy sad Bleeder are stripped down to acoustic guitar, violin and Emiliana Torrini’s sensually beautiful voice; and at times upbeat and rhythmic like the joyous celebration of Jungle Drum.

The title track, Me And Armini, received its second release this month with remixes by Dan Carey and Simone Lombardi.  The Me And Armini Remix EP also included previously unreleased versions of album tracks Ha Ha and Beggar’s Prayer.

Before launching her successful solo career, Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir was an original member of Iceland art and electronic music collective, GusGus in 1995; and with producer Dan Carey, she co-wrote Slow and Someday for Kylie Minogue’s Body Language album in 2003.

Listen to excerpts from the Me And Armini album and an interview with Emiliana Torrini in the following videos:

Earlier this year, Jungle Drum was a number 1 hit single in several European countries and introduced me to Emiliana Torrini with a performance on the Later With Jools Holland programme.

Emiliana Torrini – Me And Armini is available on Rough Trade Records.