Review: Jónsi & Liz Fraser’s ‘Cannibal’ Swoons In Gothic Dreamlike Heaven

Jónsi & Elizabeth Fraser | Cannibal (single) | Krunk

Single Release Date: August 14, 2020

‘Shiver’ Album Release Date: 3 October, 2020

Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and avant-garde maestro Jónsi (Jón Þór “Jónsi” Birgisson) is perhaps best known as the frontman of Icelandic post-rock pioneers Sigur Rós. Even those who may be unfamiliar with the atmospheric melancholia that is post-rock, after 26 years as a band – the name rings throughout the music world as nothing less than iconic.

Known for his outstanding vocals in particular, his first endeavour as a solo artist in 2010 with his album ‘Go’ (working simply under the name Jónsi) showcased the artist’s prowess when it comes to composition. Along with his collaborations with American artist, musician, producer and then partner Alex Somers on multiple projects since then, Jónsi is the type always willing to experiment, creating works that are always undeniably distinct.

For many of us, the news of a collaboration between the virtuoso Jónsi and the legendary Cocteau Twins vocalist, and widely celebrated Massive Attack collaborator (Elizabeth) Liz Fraser came as a surprise, but a highly welcomed one at that. In light of his forthcoming album ‘Shiver’ – his second LP and first solo release in an entire decade – the artist has released the third, and collaborative single with Fraser titled ‘Cannibal’. When we think of both Jónsi and Liz Fraser – the first thing that always comes to mind is their beautifully unique vocal techniques, the combination of which couldn’t be better.

In ‘Cannibal’ we are greeted with a wash of layered, angelic vocal harmonies as Jónsi’s signature emotive mystique peers through in lyrical incandescence. The compassionate strum of kind guitars accompany Jónsi’s velvet swoon, the melancholic timbres an homage to the sincere post-punk nostalgia of earlier days.

Drenched in cinematic bliss, bursts of dramatic post-rock and dream-pop ebb and flow between Cocteau Twins songstress Liz Fraser’s perplexing vocal range and Jónsi’s mesmeric lullaby; perfectly complementary in euphoric synchronicity. Fraser’s mysterious, phantom-like vocals sing airy and soothing – a gentle, atmospheric gothic heaven as fluttering, contemporary electronics pepper the track in the perfect swirl of the nostalgia of 80’s theatrics.

Rating: 8 / 10

Feature Image: Jónsi by Barnaby Roper