Yndi halda
Encyclopedia
Yndi Halda is a post-rock
band from Canterbury
, England. 'Yndi Halda' is Old Norse
for "Enjoy Eternal Bliss", also the name of their self-titled debut. The band's music is characterized by expansive, cinematic pieces that have seen them compared to post rock and modern classical genres.
, lapsteel, piano, banjo, organ
, and vocals), Jack Lambert (guitar), Brendan Grieve (bass guitar), Daniel Neal (violin), and Oliver Newton (drums, tambourine), the band formed in 2001 while all of the members were still in school. Former bassist Daniel Lovegrove (also the sole member of Unstatuesque) was apparently only considered a band member during the recording of 'Enjoy Eternal Bliss'. In the summer of 2005, they began recording the three tracks that would appear on the initial self-release of Enjoy Eternal Bliss
, which was finished in the autumn of that year.
The self-released edition of Enjoy Eternal Bliss was often reviewed favorably (although the band has copied negative reviews onto its MySpace
site) and gained attention because of its distinctive, individualized hand-made covers. The group's first set of material has been compared to Mogwai
, Godspeed You! Black Emperor
, Explosions in the Sky
, Mono
, and Sigur Rós
.
They gained a strong fanbase from the self-released EP despite their limited exposure on the live circuit and signed to the acclaimed European record label Big Scary Monsters and Burnt Toast Vinyl
in North America in 2006. The world-wide release of the Enjoy Eternal Bliss EP followed in February 2007. It featured a fourth song previously unavailable on the self-released edition. Despite still being billed as an EP, the four song version runs more than one hour in length. The band were voted 'Ones To Watch in 2007' by Rock Sound
magazine in the UK, who awarded Enjoy Eternal Bliss a near-perfect score in the February 2007 issue.
The band toured the UK, Europe, North America and Asia to promote the release of Enjoy Eternal Bliss. Recent live shows have also included performing at the Rhâââ Lovely Festival
in Belgium, the Formoz Festival in Taipei, the Electrical Lands Festival in Paris, the Rockomotives Festival in Vendôme and at the Barbican Hall in London. The Insider's Guide to Beijing 2008 refers to the band's August 2007 performance in Beijing
as part of their Asian tour as a demonstration of modern, western rock music becoming more prominent in the Chinese live scene.
"We Flood Empty Lakes", a song from Enjoy Eternal Bliss, was featured on a recent Fuel TV
commercial.
New material has been debuted live since the last half of 2007, which has suggested a dramatic change in direction from the band. While previously almost entirely instrumental and electric, this new material has featured a notable shift to acoustic instruments (acoustic guitar, organ, double bass) and more vocal songwriting. According to the band's official Myspace
blog
two new songs will be titled "La Lumiere Lit" and "This Very Flight". Whether these songs will feature on a forthcoming new album (title TBA) is not yet known.
page here.
James Vella has a side project called A Lily. His MySpace
page can be found here, which includes samples of his music. His debut album was released on Dynamophone Records in June 2006.
In 2006, Vella launched a new record label O Rosa Records, named after a passage from Herman Hesse's novel Steppenwolf
. The label's ethos is "to present special music; works of art that could have been released anywhere in the world at any time in human history; music that sings intimately to you and I. We are not a business, we are a creative endeavour". Its first few planned releases are by Whip, Sylvain Chauveau
, and Rivulets
. The label's website can be found here, and its Myspace page here.
Grieve also plays in progressive metal band Rise Of Raphia.
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
band from Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, England. 'Yndi Halda' is Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
for "Enjoy Eternal Bliss", also the name of their self-titled debut. The band's music is characterized by expansive, cinematic pieces that have seen them compared to post rock and modern classical genres.
History
With members James Vella (guitar, glockenspielGlockenspiel
A glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
, lapsteel, piano, banjo, organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, and vocals), Jack Lambert (guitar), Brendan Grieve (bass guitar), Daniel Neal (violin), and Oliver Newton (drums, tambourine), the band formed in 2001 while all of the members were still in school. Former bassist Daniel Lovegrove (also the sole member of Unstatuesque) was apparently only considered a band member during the recording of 'Enjoy Eternal Bliss'. In the summer of 2005, they began recording the three tracks that would appear on the initial self-release of Enjoy Eternal Bliss
Enjoy Eternal Bliss
Enjoy Eternal Bliss was a debut EP recorded by the instrumental band Yndi Halda and released on the Big Scary Monsters Recording Company in the UK; Burnt Toast Vinyl in the USA and XTAL Records in Japan. It was first made available online on November 13, 2006 before being released in shops in...
, which was finished in the autumn of that year.
The self-released edition of Enjoy Eternal Bliss was often reviewed favorably (although the band has copied negative reviews onto its MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
site) and gained attention because of its distinctive, individualized hand-made covers. The group's first set of material has been compared to Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
, Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band which originated from Montreal, Quebec in 1994...
, Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band from Texas. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows...
, Mono
Mono (Japanese band)
Mono are a Japanese post rock band, formed in 1999 in Tokyo, Kantō, Honshū. The band consists of Takaakira Goto , Yoda , Tamaki Kunishi , and Yasunori Takada .Mono have released five studio albums...
, and Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
.
They gained a strong fanbase from the self-released EP despite their limited exposure on the live circuit and signed to the acclaimed European record label Big Scary Monsters and Burnt Toast Vinyl
Burnt Toast Vinyl
Burnt Toast Vinyl is an independent record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:Burnt Toast Vinyl was founded by a Drexel University student who had initially been involved with concert promotion at the school...
in North America in 2006. The world-wide release of the Enjoy Eternal Bliss EP followed in February 2007. It featured a fourth song previously unavailable on the self-released edition. Despite still being billed as an EP, the four song version runs more than one hour in length. The band were voted 'Ones To Watch in 2007' by Rock Sound
Rock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
magazine in the UK, who awarded Enjoy Eternal Bliss a near-perfect score in the February 2007 issue.
The band toured the UK, Europe, North America and Asia to promote the release of Enjoy Eternal Bliss. Recent live shows have also included performing at the Rhâââ Lovely Festival
Rhâââ Lovely Festival
The Rhâââ Lovely Festival was a Belgian indie post-rock festival that took place each April at Cortil-Wodon, a village near Namur, in rural Wallonia. A non-profit organisation, composed of volunteers, organised and promoted the event. The 9th annual Rhâââ Lovely Festival took place on 29 March 2008...
in Belgium, the Formoz Festival in Taipei, the Electrical Lands Festival in Paris, the Rockomotives Festival in Vendôme and at the Barbican Hall in London. The Insider's Guide to Beijing 2008 refers to the band's August 2007 performance in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
as part of their Asian tour as a demonstration of modern, western rock music becoming more prominent in the Chinese live scene.
"We Flood Empty Lakes", a song from Enjoy Eternal Bliss, was featured on a recent Fuel TV
Fuel TV
Fuel TV is a U.S. cable and satellite specialty channel that launched on July 1, 2003. It focuses on the cultures of such extreme sports as skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, surfing, BMX and FMX. It is a unit of Fox Cable Networks and is currently available to 26-million...
commercial.
New material has been debuted live since the last half of 2007, which has suggested a dramatic change in direction from the band. While previously almost entirely instrumental and electric, this new material has featured a notable shift to acoustic instruments (acoustic guitar, organ, double bass) and more vocal songwriting. According to the band's official Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
two new songs will be titled "La Lumiere Lit" and "This Very Flight". Whether these songs will feature on a forthcoming new album (title TBA) is not yet known.
Side Projects
The Lunchtime Sardine Club is Newton's solo side project. No plans have been made to release any compositions. However, tracks can be downloaded from The Lunchtime Sardine Club's MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page here.
James Vella has a side project called A Lily. His MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page can be found here, which includes samples of his music. His debut album was released on Dynamophone Records in June 2006.
In 2006, Vella launched a new record label O Rosa Records, named after a passage from Herman Hesse's novel Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (novel)
Steppenwolf is the tenth novel by German-Swiss author Hermann Hesse. Originally published in Germany in 1927, it was first translated into English in 1929. Combining autobiographical and psychoanalytic elements, the novel was named after the lonesome wolf of the steppes...
. The label's ethos is "to present special music; works of art that could have been released anywhere in the world at any time in human history; music that sings intimately to you and I. We are not a business, we are a creative endeavour". Its first few planned releases are by Whip, Sylvain Chauveau
Sylvain Chauveau
Sylvain Chauveau is a critically acclaimed instrumental music and electronic music artist and composer from Bayonne, France.-Background:Sylvain Chauveau was born in Bayonne, France , and now lives in Brussels, Belgium...
, and Rivulets
Rivulets
-Biography:Amundson was born in Denver, Colorado, grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and started Rivulets in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the year 2000. He has also lived in Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Bloomington, Indiana and Duluth, Minnesota...
. The label's website can be found here, and its Myspace page here.
Grieve also plays in progressive metal band Rise Of Raphia.
Members
- James Vella (guitars, glockenspiel, lapsteel, banjo, piano, keyboard, vocals)
- Jack Lambert (guitars)
- Daniel Neal (violin)
- Brendan Grieve (bass)
- Oliver Newton (drums and percussion)