TEAM DREAMS | VINYL RECORD (LP)

Double LP version. Hgatefold sleeve; Includes printed inner sleeves and download code; Etching on side D. Team Dreams is the collaborative album of Sin Fang, Sóley, and Örvar Smárason of múm and FM Belfast. It combines the individual strengths of the three acclaimed musicians, and blends folk sensibilities with futuristic pop beats. Imagine you commit to writing and releasing a song as fast as possible within a few days. You would never believe the immense beauty and intriguing shapes of these 12 songs are the result of said silly idea, a fun project basically. "I remember driving to the countryside just after finishing my last album," Sin Fang recollects how Team Dreams came about. "My album took a really long time to make and some of the songs on the album were two years old. I thought: 'Wouldn't it be fun to write a song and release it the day after?' So I talked to Örvar and Sóley and we all agreed to make a song in three days every month." The three share quite a history together, as well as with Morr Music. Years ago, Sóley joined Sin Fang's indie folk band Seabear, before both started out solo and regularly featured on each other's albums. They were surely inspired by Iceland's electronica icons múm, co-founded by Örvar Smárason. For this record, everyone brought their distinct sound and musical ideas to the table. There is Sóley's ethereal presence and fantasy-tinged songscapes, Sin Fang's ability to craft powerful pop anthems, and Örvar's experience with translating emotions into heartwarming sound. Songs like "Tennis" wander between bonfire intimacy and slow-paced beats that echo cutting-edge R&B and club productions by artist like Jam City and Kelela. The album is filled with this kind of calm eclecticism, but also leaves room for the pureness of piano ballads like "Wasted". Although the album might sound quite seamless, like a well-planned affair, it certainly wasn't for the trio. Sóley says for her it was about freedom and taking a welcome risk: "I thought the idea of not being stuck to one sound or genre was really interesting. I think differently when I make a song for this project and it has taught me a lot." This "monthly dose of subtle mayhem", as Örvar called the songs, was destined to become a bigger whole.