Muna

by Marketa Irglova

Overview

The second solo outing from the Czechoslovakian singer/songwriter who rose to fame in 2007 after winning a Best Original Song Oscar for "Falling Slowly" (co-written with Frames singer Glen Hansard under the Swell Season moniker), Muna utilizes the talents of 27 musicians (choir, strings, orchestral percussion) and was inspired by, according to Irglova, Jesus Christ Superstar and author Neale Donald Walsch's book trilogy Conversations with God. Muna, which means "remembering" in Icelandic, is a gospel record through and through, but it also reflects the rugged natural beauty of the land in which it was birthed. Produced with great warmth by Irglova's partner Sturla Mio Thorisson, the 11-track collection begins and ends with the choir incantation "You can have whatever you can dream of," and that simple edict of hope forms the basis, at least ideologically, for everything that lies in between. Lyrically, Muna reads a bit like scripture, even going so far as to intone The Lord's Prayer on the stark and stoic "Without a Map," and the album's unwavering religiosity makes for a rather overly serious listen, especially if one doesn't share the same spiritual persuasion. That said, it's a musically rich audio tome that rarely overplays its hand, despite the fact that it took a small army to create it, and standout cuts like "Point of Creation" and "The Leading Bird," with their hymn-like group vocals, gentle strings, and soft piano, emit a monastic aura that is undeniably comforting. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2014
Label:	ANTI
UPC:	0045778724529

Tracks

1. Point of Creation
2. Time Immemorial
3. The Leading Bird
4. Fortune Teller
5. Without a Map
6. Remember Who You Are
7. Mary
8. Phoenix
9. Seasons Change
10. Gabriel
11. This Right Here

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Marketa Irglova   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Valgeir Sigurdjsson   Fender Rhodes
Shahzad Ismaily   Percussion,Banjo
Una Sveinbjarnardottir   Violin
Aaron Roche   Choir/Chorus
Hoerdjur Askelsson   Organ
Elfa Ingvadottir   Choir/Chorus
Kristin Erna Bloendal   Choir/Chorus
Helgi Hrafn Jonsson   Vocals,Trombone
Oern Arnarson   Choir/Chorus
Katie Buckley   Harp
Sturla Mio Þorisson   Vocals,Percussion
Anthony LaMarca   Choir/Chorus
Nicholas Zork   Choir/Chorus
Gudmundur Vignir Karlsson   Choir/Chorus
Aida Shahghasemi   Vocals
Whitni Roche   Choir/Chorus
Frank Aaiznink   Percussion
Karitas Arny Sturludottir   Vocals
Noelia Zork   Choir/Chorus
Rob Bochnikov   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Zuzana Irglova   Vocals
Borgar Magnason   Bass (Upright)
Hildigunnur Einarsdottir   Choir/Chorus
Benedikt Ingolfsson   Choir/Chorus
Tim Iseler   Bass (Electric)

Technical Credits

Marketa Irglova   Artwork,Composer
Sturla Mio Þorisson   Mixing,Artwork,Engineer,Producer,Mastering,Photography
Aida Shahghasemi   Composer
Nahid Hagigat   Artwork,Cover Art
Karitas Arny Sturludottir   Laughs
Mary Reynolds   Artwork
Valgeir Sigurdjsson   Producer