Hildur Guðnadóttir, BJ Nilsen, Stilluppsteypa - Second Childhood (2007)

Second Childhood is an intriguing collaboration between B.J. Nilsen (aka Hazard), Helgi Thorsson and Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson of Stilluppsteypa, and Hildur Gudnadóttir. With such notable artists involved, you'd expect something melodic, beat-driven or even childlike, but this is far from it. The 19-minute "It's About the Size of a House" is a gorgeous drone crescendo, filled with a microcosm of sounds, suddenly choked halfway into the piece to let its softer elements filter through. Another highlight is "The Direction Was Foggy or Cloudy," driven by an organ drone. For "I Have Seen Similar Stones," the quartet steps out of the drone feel to produce what comes through as a pastiche of early musique concrète. There are a few weak or overstretched moments, and the album as a whole remains extremely quiet and low-profile, but it makes for a nice, attentive late-night listening. Note that the track list announces seven pieces, but the continuous material is split into only six.

Tracklist:
1-1 Hildur Gudnadottir, BJ Nilsen, Stilluppsteypa - It's About the Size of a House [6:35]
1-2 Hildur Gudnadottir, BJ Nilsen, Stilluppsteypa - Temple of the Holy Tooth [12:01]
1-3 Hildur Gudnadottir, BJ Nilsen, Stilluppsteypa - How to Catch the Night Thought [10:52]
1-4 Hildur Gudnadottir, BJ Nilsen, Stilluppsteypa - The Direction Was Foggy or Cloudy [6:11]
1-5 Hildur Gudnadottir, BJ Nilsen, Stilluppsteypa - I Have Seen Similar Stones [10:39]
1-6 Hildur Gudnadottir, BJ Nilsen, Stilluppsteypa - Arrival [8:56]
1-7 Hildur Gudnadottir, BJ Nilsen, Stilluppsteypa - Writing on a Dead Animal [1:30]