Album Review

Pascal Pinon – Twosomeness

• 14th Jan 2013

Twosomeness is the second album from Pascal Pinon – 18yr old Icelandic twin sisters Ásthildur and Jófriður. Its delicate folk songs are beautifully sung, some in English and some in their native language, with all of the togetherness and harmony that the name suggests.

The music has a lo fi, home made feel to it, which works well in the main, allowing the vocals to take centre stage, although there is some lovely keyboard work in places too. The overall effect is an album that is largely sparse and atmospheric, a gentle and ambient air predominating as the at times whispered lyrics wash over the listener.

The lovely Fernando, with great harmonies and delicate backing stands out, although as the lyrics are in Icelandic I have no clue what it’s about. Somewhere opens with a gentle hum before developing nicely into a soft folky, almost ethereal, track. And in Good And Bad Things the twin vocals combine to great effect in a slightly more expansive sound.

If there is a criticism of the album it is that it is so sweet that too much of it almost leads to a sensory overdose. But at only 37 minutes or so Twosomeness isn’t over long, and the closing track Rfrildi feels like a summing up of their gentle approach to music.

Pascal Pinon are named after a sideshow freak from the early 1900s – google Pasqual Pinon for the sad story of The Two-Headed Mexican. It is a strange name for performers whose music has such beauty, but perhaps that contrast is the point.

If you thought Icelandic music was limited to Bjork it is well worth checking out this twin sister combination. Twosomeness is a well crafted album of interesting and melodic tracks.

Venue: Twosomeness
Support Band: Morr Music