Here is a link to an album review here in Iceland by Arnar Eggert Thoroddsen at RÚV, includes an english translation below.
The beautiful process
Hera Hjartadóttir's tenth album is simply called Hera. Bardi Jóhannsson, of Bang Gang, was in charge of recording. Hera is the album of the week on Rás2. Hera Hjartadóttir attracted considerable attention in this country in the late 1990s and into the mid 20s. Her albums, Not Your Type and Don’t Play This, showed that here was a talented person on the go, where musicianship, singing voice and charm all supported each other.
Back home
Hera has mostly lived in New Zealand but has now moved back to Iceland. This album has been in production for over three years and is Hera's first solo album in over eight years and it is Barði Jóhannsson who produces.
As stated here, Hera has been extremely diligent and active in music all her life, releasing a number of records and performing concerts all around the world. The last studio album, Rattle my Bones (2011), contained eloquent songs, folky songs with moving lyrics. If it is the morning album, this is the album that belongs to the day when it starts to dusk. This is "adult". Slow-flowing work and contemplative, well thought out and powerful. The songs are subdued and take the time they need. They pass around you like a fog in thick, ambient sounds. See (and hear) e.g. "Process". There's a slight Alanis tinge to it (compliment) and Hera sings gently and humbly. Her singing voice has always been strong and clear and it helps convey her lyrics and it is easy to hear she is working through emotions.
Bardi does very well on the recording board. Knowing his career, I even expected the album to become darker, gothic and that was a possibility. But it is not. Bardi allows the pop to shine, serving the artist first and foremost. The sound is extremely good throughout, as I mentioned here in the beginning.
"Coldest Evening" rolls rhythmically and coolly, reminiscent of Charlotte Gainsbourg in a mic. In "How Does a Lie Taste” you cannot hide the anger and the disappointment and the song construction and sound firmly supports these feelings. "Cool it" is a country song, sort of. "Simple" bears it’s name well, it is clean, a memorable ballad. It really says everything about the album's air that a song titled "Let's have a Party" is filled with melancholy.
Strong (weighty)
An extremely strong album and a great "comeback" so to speak. Hera's singing is passionate throughout, the songs beautifully composed and finished and the flow extremely convincing and solid. Extremely Good!