Years active 2009 (2009)–present Associated acts Samaris Origin Iceland (2009) Genres Folk rock, Folktronica | Labels Morr Music Website pascalpinon.com Record label Morr Music | |
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Albums Sundur, Twosomeness, Pascal Pinon, Party Wolves Members Jófríður Ákadóttir, Ásthildur Ákadóttir, Halla Kristjánsdóttir, Kristín Ylfa Hólmgrimsdóttir Similar Samaris, Sin Fang, Seabear, Sóley, FM Belfast Profiles | ||
Pascal Pinon is a musical group from Reykjavík, Iceland and is composed of twin sisters Ásthildur and Jófríður Ákadóttir.
Contents
History
The sisters formed the band in 2009 with two additional members: Halla Kristjánsdóttir and Kristín Ylfa Hölmgrimsdóttir. The name was a reference to the early 20th century circus performer Pasqual Pinon.
The group describes their music as “… simple and honest, filled with both melancholy and optimism. We hope to make music that can inspire, soothe heartaches and warm you inside.” Pascal Pinon songs are sung in their native Icelandic language as well as English. The sisters have cited Tegan and Sara, Björk, Joni Mitchell, and Sinead O'Connor as influences. Jófríður Ákadóttir is the main songwriter and singer. She plays guitar as well as clarinet and keyboards. Ásthildur Ákadóttir usually sings harmony, plays various keyboards, guitar and bassoon. They also have expressed a “weak spot” for lo-fi music, cassette tape noise and toy synths. The group has performed in Europe multiple times (2010-2014, 2016), as well as giving concerts in China (2011) and Japan (2012). In 2017 Jófríður performed in Europe with her cousin, Hildur Berglind Arndal, who took the place of Ásthildur.
Music
In 2009, when they were 14 years of age, they released their first album, Pascal Pinon. It was entirely self-produced. Re-released by the Morr Music label in 2010, it was described by Allmusic as “a truly lovely record”.
The group, now a duo, released their second album, Twosomeness (produced by Alex Somers), in January 2013 . The album received an 8/10 rating from Clash, with writer Gareth James calling it “a rare and beautiful treat”, while it received four stars out of five from Allmusic writer Tim Sendra, who described the songs as “very magical and wrapped in warm, slightly sad mystery”. Michael Cragg of The Guardian wrote “… these Icelandic twin sisters make gorgeously intimate songs…” In 2013 Nico Muhly named them to a New York Times “Must List” of daily music, describing their music as “strangely catching.”
In November, 2015 Jófríður described the upcoming Pascal Pinon album Sundur as "… raw and real, minimalistic and a bit melancholic… " Reviewers gave the album high praise: Tony Clayton-Lea in The Irish Times said that in Sundur " …the sisters manage to construct a minimal soundscape that is part sad dream, part tender magic…" Derval McCloat described Sundur as " …a stirring account of humanity, love, loss, hope and, above all, sisterhood… " and as a " …series of magical moments at times shrouded in mystery, ‘Sundur’ gives us a glimpse into the secret world of siblings, a fascinating phenomenon that transcends the physical." Sundur was featured on The Line of Best Fit Fifty Essential Albums of 2016. It was named as one of Play Repeat's 10 best albums of 2016. New Noise Magazine placed Sundur in their top 16 of 2016.
Related Projects
Jófríður is also the singer for the Icelandic electronic music group Samaris. She has also contributed to many other musical projects, most notably Gangly, Muted, and Low Roar. In 2015 she began a solo career, performing as JFDR.
Albums
Singles, EPs
Songs
I Wrote a SongPascal Pinon · 2009
Ekki VanmetaTwosomeness · 2013
When I Can't SleepTwosomeness · 2013