Of Monsters and Men Explores Its Animal Instincts

Straight from Iceland, home to that other cultural queen of quirk Bjork, comes a fivesome equally at home creating both simple jaunty tunes ("Love Love Love") as they are more expansive slices that evoke vistas of their homeland ("From Finner"), a fact proven on "My Head is an Animal". There's a certain well-worn comfort to this band. "Little Talks" sounds like it belongs at a ceremonial lodge brothers meeting in Reykjavik. Wave upon wave of gorgeous trumpets filling up the air. "Yellow Light" us undoubtedly the most gentle reassuring cut here. Both lead female vocalist Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdotir and lead male vocalist Rangar Porhallsson come across as warm as a pre-bedtime lullaby. Their sound isn't merely a dish. It's a soup of eccentric sounds that grow more and more palatable with each listen. Be sure to have yourself a taste. You'll leave the listening arena feeling like you just had a unique Icelandic vacation.