The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

I'm pretty behind with blogging, oh loyal followers. I just officially finished first year of college so now I should have abundant amounts of free time to splatter my opinions all over the place. First up, the remarkable musician (and more importantly, a person I actually know!), Laura Sheeran.

Two Oh Ten is going to be Laura Sheeran's year. Having had the pleasure of being in her company at last year's Electric Picnic, and witnessed first hand the extraordinary artistic influence she has had on our mutual friend, SWALL, I am entirely certain of her prowess as a creative powerhouse.

April 23rd saw Laura release her "official" debut EP, although she has released some recordings previously. Music For The Deep Woods is a voyage through what Laura herself calls "the darker stuff rolling around my head-space" and can be best described as a "unity between the music I was making and ideas, imagery I was presenting in my blog" (of the same name, which can be found here). The EP features collaborations with a hoard of musical guests, including Choice Prize winner Adrian Crowley, Emily Aoibheann of Cixous Ghost, Marc Aubele of pig, and the aforementioned SWALL.

Deep Woods offers up dark beauty in the form of traditional instrumentation eternally coupled with eerie soundscapes, "treated thunder", and even "sounds of hysteria" on the incredible "Under The Ice."

Laura's voice falls effortlessly amongst the balance of order and chaos, hitting its deepest registers on the terrifying Lupine Rot (a duet with Crowley), and aching with sincerity on the SWALL-penned "Ag Cuimhniú" - a track which I've had on repeat since I downloaded the album. It is startlingly beautiful (and I ain't just sayin' that cos SWALL's my mate!).

The record ends on the haunting "Rain Song", a perfect representation of its title. For this one, I recommend you turn off all the lights, and turn up the volume. Seriously.

Music is so rarely such an all-encompassing sensual experience as this, and with Laura planning to release her debut album later this year, I am so glad that there's more of the same or better to come.

You can download the EP here. It's free, so you don't have an excuse not to, right?

Ag Chuimhniú by laurasheeran

Björk who?

Having been a huge Sigur Rós fan since discovering their sophomore album, Ágætis byrjun, several years ago, and subsequently developing an unquenchable thirst for all things Icelandic, it was with baited breath that I waited for frontman Jón Þór Birgisson (known as Jónsi) to release his solo debut.

"Boy Lilikoi", released late last year, was the first taste of the brilliance to come. Backed by a staccato drum pattern and swirling woodwind, the song is upbeat, rapturous, and almost childlike, with Jonsí imploring his "boy lilikoi" to grab life because "the world goes and flutters by".

The album, Go, begins with a similarly uplifting track, "Go Do", reminiscent of "Gobbledigook" from Sigur Ros' Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. In fact, it is one of the most uplifting pieces of music I have ever heard, and I've had it on repeat since I got the album. Jonsí creates an incredibly euphonic wall of sound from whirling synths, flute blasts, and percussion by way of pummeling furiously on a suitcase (yes, a suitcase - if you don't believe me, watch the beautiful video for "Go Do" after the post). It is the perfect accompaniment to the endlessly layered vocals which plead "Go! Do!"; to seize life and "always know that we can do anything".

Interestingly, Jonsí mostly sings in English on the album, though his vocal delivery is so like an instrument itself, it is sometimes impossible to tell what language he is singing in. He is simply part of the orchestra. Although the music is often far removed from that of Sigur Rós, a certain melancholy remains, and there is a clever juxtaposition of despondent lyrics and euphoric melody.

However, the music is not at all times upbeat. "Kolniður" is almost terrifying while the dark, brooding "Tornado" begins with echoey piano chords in the style of Radiohead's "Pyramid Song", and before long is awash with strings and cymbal crashes, building to a frightening climax of clattering marching drums as if Jónsi himself is leading an army to battle. Although foreboding, its subject matter is concurrent with that of the whole album - enjoy life while you can.

Jónsi has crafted something beautiful, with so many layers both musically and thematically, that you'll find yourself jerked to and fro between the poles of human emotion, all while dancing around your bedroom like a mad yoke. This is pop music as it should be.

Jónsi - Go Do from Jónsi on Vimeo.