laugardagur, febrúar 28, 2009

Jón Þór Birgisson (Jónsi of Sigur Rós) & Alex completing Debut Album @ Hawaii - Song "Happiness" on Red Hot Organization Compilation

Jónsi has been keeping busy these past weeks making an album with his boyfriend Alex. The boys are currently isolated in a jungle hut in Hawaii completing their first album, which will be released in the summer. For a preview of the album you can check out the compilation album dark was the night, to which they have contributed a song under the name Riceboy Sleeps. The compilation is released by the Red Hot Organization, an HIV/AIDS charity, and features contributions from other quality acts such as Sufjan Stevens, Beirut, Arcade Fire, Yo La Tengo, etc.
Source:
www.sigur-ros.co.uk
www.myspace.com/redhotorganization
Video by Shawn Old & Robert Heishman
www.youtube.com/v/Wz9wFRssBK8&hl&fmt=18

BarFrikki and other Icelandic Music Compilations & Samplers (Part 1)

This week I've got an Album in my mailbox that I did win on Ebay.
BarFrikki The Sessions - A taste of Icelandic Music (enhanced CD).
An Album for free with Scottish The List Magazine (# 487) in 2004.
Sponsored by Tennent's Lager & Icelandair.
6 Tracks are:
1. Emilliana Torrini - To Be Free
2. Sigur Ros - Untitled #4
3. Ske - Stuff
4. Singapore Sling - Nuthin' Ain't Bad
5. Leaves - Breathe
6. Minus - Who's Hobo
Of course their are plenty other Icelandic Music compilation albums. For instance the Airwaves Festival CDs and Folk Music compilations. Even a lot of Soundtracks are a sort of compilation.
Dr. Gunni released 3 Compilations with the name "Snarl" on his label (Cassettes!)
E09 SNARL (1987)
E12 SNARL II - VERÖLDIN ER VEIMILTÍTA! (1987)
E20 SNARL III - ÞETTA ER BESTA SPÓLAN SEM ÉG Á! (1991)
More information @ www.this.is/drgunni/erdanu.html

- Geyser - Anthology of the Icelandic Independent Music Scene of the Eighties (compilation of punk/new wave/gothic rock) (11 songs) (Enigma Records, 1987)
- World Domination or Death. A Bad Taste Compilation. Volume 1 Assorted Artists (Bad Taste, 1990)
- Smekkleysa í hálfa öld (Smekkleysa Label, SM44CD, 1994)
- Spírur (14 songs: Vínyll, Bang Gang, Tristian, Port, Emmet, Stjörnukisi, 200.000 Naglbítar contributed all 2 songs) (Sproti Label, 1997)
- Kvistir (13 songs by Maus (2 songs), Pornopop, Bang Gang, Gus Gus, Vínyll, Móa, Stjörnukisi, Bellatrix, Port, Dagbók NN, Quarashi, 200.000 Naglbítar)(Sproti Label, 1998)
- Free Palestine / Frjáls Palestína (18 songs) (Spor, 1998). More information @ www.palestine.is
- Voices / Raddir. Recordings of folksongs recorded between 1909 - 1973 from the Archives of the Arni Magnusson Institute. (Smekkleysa Label, 1998)
- Nælur (compilation of Icelandic punk rock & new wave music)(Spor Label, 1998). More information @ http://enc.slider.com/Enc/Naelur
- Icelandic Pop Favourites (Skifan, 2000)
- Icelandic Rock Favourites (Skifan, 2000)
- Icelandic Jazz Favourites (Skifan, 2000)
- Icelandic Folk Favourites (Skifan, 2000)
- Alltaf Sama Svínið (2CDs/35 songs) (Smekkleysa Label, SM100CD, 2002)
- 42 more things to do in zero gravity/part one (2CDs/23 songs) (Uni:Form Label, 2002). Electronic/Dance compilation.
- Sound & Pictures Reykjavik - MINI International # 7 (5 songs: 2 Ske songs, Dr. Gunni, DIP & Atingere)
- Fire & Ice - Music from Iceland. Promotional Album with music from different labels. More information @
http://icelandicmusic.blogspot.com/2007/03/promotional-album-fire-and-ice.html

- Kitchen Motors Family Album / Fjöskyldualbúm Tilraunaeldhússins (1CD/21 Songs)(12 Tonar Label, 2006)
- Made in Iceland (Iceland Music Export, 2008) More information @ http://www.icelandmusic.is/
- Weirdcore (online free Icelandic electronic music compilation, 2008)

Rökkurró @ Café Rosenberg 8. March 2009 - European Tour in March & April

Rökkurró is going on an European Tour. Before they leave their heimat, the band is giving a concert @ Café Rosenberg 8. March 2009 @ 21:00.
Entrance: 1.000 IKR
Supporting Act: Airelectric

Upcoming Shows in March & April 2009 in
Iceland - Germany - Denmark - Switzerland - Belgium - The Netherlands:
Mar 8 2009 9:00P
Café Rosenberg with Airelectric Reykjavík
Mar 16 2009 8:00P
King Georg Cologne (DE)
Mar 17 2009 8:00P
Societätstheater Dresden (DE)
Mar 18 2009 8:00P
Schokoladen Berlin (DE)
Mar 19 2009 8:00P
Feinkostlampe Hannover (DE)
Mar 20 2009 8:00P
Cafe Cairo Würzburg (DE)
Mar 21 2009 8:00P
Noch Besser Leben Leipzig (DE)
Mar 22 2009 8:00P
Lades Copenhagen (DK)
Mar 24 2009 8:00P
Steinbruch Duisburg (DE)
Mar 25 2009 8:00P
Eburg Erfurt (DE)
Mar 26 2009 8:00P
Emile Vache Metz (FR)
Mar 27 2009 8:00P
Kulturwerk 118 Sursee (CH)
Mar 28 2009 8:00P
Elfer Frankfurt (DE)
Mar 29 2009 8:00P
Culturhuis Maison - final concert of the 101 Reykjavík series Maldegem (BE)
Mar 30 2009 8:00P
De Bliskem Den Helder (NL)
Mar 31 2009 8:00P
Vortex Siegen (DE)
Apr 1 2009 8:00P
Parkside Aachen (DE)
Apr 2 2009 8:00P
Objekt 5 Halle (DE)

The band was in the spotlight @ All Scandinavian Website:
Who?

“… are we? We are three guys (Árni, Björn and Axel) and two girls (Hildur and Ingibjörg) ranging from 19 to 21 years old. All live in Iceland’s capital Reykjavík and have been making music together for almost three years now. We’ve made one LP, "Það kólnar í kvöld…" and one self-titled EP. We love good music, good art, dimly lit rooms and Nutella.”
Where?
“… will we be next? On tour from March 15 to April 2. We have gigs in Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Denmark. Come and check out our show! You can find more info on MySpace”.
What?
“… does our name mean? Rökkurró is a combination of two Icelandic words. “Rökkur” which means twilight/when the sun is going down, and “ró” meaning quiet or calm. We tried to imagine some kind of cinematic mood to fit our music and thought this sounded perfect. The title of our first album, ‘Það kólnar í kvöld…’, means “It gets colder tonight” or more lyrically translated “There’s a chill in the air tonight”.”
Why?
“… are we doing what we’re doing? Because we can’t not play music. It’s impossible. We’re doing what we think is the most fun in the world and trying to reach enough people so that we can do this and nothing else.”
Source:
http://allscandinavian.com

I am going to see them in Belgium @ Vox (Cultuurhuis Maison) venue, Maldegem Sunday 29. March 2009.

Their MySpace:
www.myspace.com/rokkurro

New Tonik EP Out

Tonik, an electronic band with a diverse number of members but also the alter ego of Anton Kaldal Ágústsson, has released a New EP "Form Follows" on 17. February 2009.
Streaming of the Album @ Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Tonik/19572674201#/inbox/readupdates.php?id=19572674201
Other work includes some Remixes of songs by Icelandic artists:
Herbert Guðmundsson "Can't walk away" (Tonik remix)
Dikta "Just getting started" (Tonik remix)
Lada Sport "World is a place for kids going far" (Tonik remix)
Also featured On the Compilation "Weirdcore" (2008)
www.myspace.com/tonikmusic

Agent Fresco celebrates first birthday @ Kaffibarinn tonight with FREE concert

Agent Fresco celebrate their first birthday
Arnór, the lead singer of Agent Fresco, tells us that on 28. February 2008, he received an email from his 3 current bandmates asking if he'd like to join the band. They consider that day as the birth of Agent Fresco.
Today is exactly 1 year later, and what a year it has been!
Their debut, ''Lightbulb Universe'' has received critical acclaim and earlier this month, they won the Icelandic Music Award for Brightest Hope! Tonight, they invite you to come celebrate with a FREE concert @ Kaffibarinn. You will be treated to an incredible show and because it is also the 20th birthday of beer in Iceland, beer will be only 400 IKR before midnight. You can also pick up Lightbulb Universe for only 1.500 IKR there if you haven't purchased it yet. We hope to see you there, and once again, Happy Birthday to Agent Fresco!
www.myspace.com/agentfresco

fimmtudagur, febrúar 26, 2009

Interview with Celestine & Krummi of Minus - An Excerpt from the Documentary on Icelandic music "Beyond the sea"

Beyond the Sea / Handan við sjóinn Excerpt

www.myspace.com/minus

New Songs by Dikta & My Summer as a Salvation Soldier

Dikta's "Let go" @ MySpace:
www.myspace.com/dikta

My Summer as a Salvation Soldier @
"ATWH"
"BMX"
http://mysummerasasalvationsoldier.bandcamp.com
www.myspace.com/mysummerasasalvationsoldier

Gus Gus Tour Dates in March - April - May 2009

Gus Gus is going on the road again. Trying out material from the new Album "24/7".
DJ Sets (President Bongo) & also Live Gigs in Denmark, Germany, Latvia & Iceland the next months.
Upcoming Tour Dates
6. March - Gus Gus DJ Set @ Jolene, Copenhagen (Denmark)
7. March - Gus Gus DJ Set @ Monza, Frankfurt (Germany)
13. March - Gus Gus DJ Set @ Space Garage, Riga (Latvia)
14. March - Gus Gus DJ Set @ Datinn, Akureyri (Iceland)
20. March - Gus Gus LIVE @ Nasa, Reykjavík (Iceland)
10. April - Gus Gus LIVE @ TBC, Akureyri (Iceland)
12. April - Gus Gus DJ Set @ Rota Sonne, Munich (Germany)
2. May - Gus Gus DJ Set @ Liquid, Augsburg (Germany)
www.myspace.com/gusgus
Photographs of President Bongo & Ed Banger @ Ed Banger Party @ Organ venue, Reykjavik (January 2008) by Wim Van Hooste

þriðjudagur, febrúar 24, 2009

Spren​gjuhö​llin on Tour in Canada & USA March 2009 @ SXSW @ Austin

On the Cover of Monitor Magazine (November 2008)
www.monitor.is
Spren​gjuhö​llin goes on a USA/​Canad​ian tour in March​ 2009:
They translated some of their songs in English. English versions on their MySpace page:
Canada
11. March​ @ 9 pm w/​Major​ Maker​, Water​loo,​ ON The Starl​ight 47A King St. North​
13. March​ @ 10 pm, Toron​to,​ MB CMW: Ranch​o Relax​o 300 Colle​ge St.
14. March​ @ 00.00 pm, Toron​to,​ MB CMW: Rivol​i 334 Queen​ St. West
USA
17. March​ @ 10 pm, New York, The Cake Shop 152 Ludlo​w St.
18. March​ @ 8 pm, Austi​n,​ TX SXSW Opel Devin​e'​s Freeh​ouse 361 Congr​ess Ave.
21. March​ @ 9 pm Austi​n TX SXSW Baby Acapu​lco 5610 NLH 35.
24. March​ @ 9 pm w/​Blood​group​, New York, Fonta​na'​s Bar 105 Eldri​dge St.

mánudagur, febrúar 23, 2009

Kiasmos Debut 12" Out 30. March 2009

KIASMOS/RIVAL CONSOLES – 65/MILO (12”/Download) for Pre-Order now!
Ólafur Arnalds' new minimal techno music side project Kiasmos shares split 12” debut with label colleague Ryan Lee West aka Rival Consoles.
You can preview and pre-order @ Erased Tapes @ http://store.erasedtapes.com
The 12" contains 2 tracks by Kiasmos Duo (Arnalds/Janus Rasmussen of Bloodgroup fame)
"65"
"Walled"
Release Date 30. March 2009
www.myspace.com/kiasmos

New Icelandic Record Label: BRAK

Kimi Records started a new indie (sub)label BRAK.
BRAK will focus on lo-fi/punk/noise albums that are made as cheaply as possible - and sold as cheaply as possible. All albums will be released in limited amount of copies (usually around 200) and numbered as such. The first release is "Music From Soul" by Carpet Show and all BRAK releases will be available online through kimi.grapewire.net.
Carpet Show
"That's magic" Video
www.youtube.com/v/aDW9lt9kv2E&hl&fmt=18

www.myspace.com/carpetshow

Sigur Rós @ Sirkus, Reykjavík 26. January 2008

Sigur Rós only played one new song @ the final weekend that Sirkus was open last year.
http://vimeo.com/3242599

sigur rós at sirkus, reykjavík january 2008 from sigur rós on Vimeo.

Agent Fresco Live @ Kastljós TV Show

Agent Fresco live on the Icelandic TV
"Above these city lights"
http://vimeo.com/3319101

Agent Fresco - Above These City Lights live on Kastljós from Thor Jensen on Vimeo.

100. Song of the Week: "Poppaldin" by Maus

This weekend I published post nr. 2,000. Today I reached the point of 125,000 visitors.
Another milestone is this post of the 100. Song of the Week. I've chosen an old song, "Poppaldin" of the indie rock band Maus.
The band was formed in 1993 by Birgir Örn Steinarsson (Biggi), vocalist & guitarist, Daníel Þorsteinsson (Danni, "Krei-C"), drummer, Eggert Gíslason, bass player, and guitarist Páll Ragnar Pálsson (Palli). They have been supporting act for Placebo, Keane, Ash, Ian Brown & Coldplay.
Members are now involved in several other music projects: Fræ (Palli's band), Sometime (Danni's band) and Biggi made a Solo Album.
Song of the 100. Week is taken from their Album "Lof Mér Að Falla Að Þínu Eyra" (1997). Roger O'Donnell of The Cure fame, was a guest keyboardist on this album.
www.myspace.com/mausiceland
98 different bands (2 times I published no song in 2007):
All Icelandic Songs of the Week
2007-2009
Established 18. March 2007
2007
Ensími Slow return
Ampop Sail to the moon
Eberg Plastic lions
Hellvar Electric toy
Mammút Þorkell
Mínus Futurist
Pétur Ben White tiger
Jeff Who? Death before disco
Bogomil Font & Flís Eat your car
Funí Morgunbæn
Bang Gang It’s alright
Ólöf Arnalds Í nýju húsi
Þór Eldon & Dagur Sigurðarson Daudaskammtur
Benni Hemm Hemm Snjór Ljós Snjór
Dyrðin Hunangsdropar
Kimono Japanese Policemen
Lada Sport Tango in the valley of death
Steindór Andersen & Sigur Rós Fjöll í Austri Fagurblá
Hafdís Huld Ski jumper
The Way Down Bring me the sun
Jan Mayen We just want to get everybody high
Retro Stefson Medallion
Yukatan House
Emiliana Torrini Gollum’s Song
Hudson Wayne Coffee
Fræbbblarnir Ó Fræbbblar vors lands
Ham Voulez-vous
Brúðarbandid Sid
Worm is Green Love will tear us apart
Mr Silla & Mongoose Ten foot bear
Unun Mexikó
Elíza Empire Fall
Bloodgroup Moving like a tiger
Morðingjarnir Airwaves
Motion Boys Hold me closer to your heart
Ólafur Arnalds Himininn er að hrynja en störnurnar fara Þér vel
Dimma Mama
Jóhann G. Jóhannsson Kjötsúpa
Stafrænn Hákon & Unstatuesque Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
2008
Sometime Heart of spades
UMTBS Story of a star
Sprengjuhöllin Worry til spring
Védis A beautiful life
Dr. Gunni Helvitis gráðugu fífl
Purrkur Pillnikk Óvænt
Þeyr Killer boogie
FM Belfast Synthia
Sudden Weather Change Kill goretrout
Þursaflokkurinn Skriftaganger
Borko Spoonstabber
Dísa Temptation
The Sugarcubes Dancing Queen (demo)
Björk Wanderlust (Ratatat Remix)
Kenya This is real
Who Knew Sharpen the knife
Our lives The audience part 2
Amiina Fjarskanistan
Blindfold Don’t think it’s a sin
Andhéri Stundum veit ég ekki hvar ég er
Dr. Gunni & Vinur hans O kisa min
Reykjavík! Æji plís
Rúnar Eff Disco freaks
Singapore Sling Guiding light
Heiða Loftborg
Vicky Pollard The Plan
BOB Under the influence of My Bloody Valentine
Steed Lord featuring Krummi Bucket of blood
Úlpa Dinzl
Gavin Portland This ain’t the Dakota
Tommygun Preachers Battle of the Monkeys
Barði Jóhannsson & Noemi Dream
Pornopop Hangover you
Rúnk Klapparstígur
Sverrir Bergmann Snow
For A Minor Reflection Óhljód
Inside Bilderberg Return of the pigs
Hungry & The Burger Cosmonauts
Plúseinn Shake
Dynamo Fog Rock & Rock
Naflakusk Habacap
Elly Vilhjálms Vegir liggja till alla átta
Æla Óður til hinna guðdómlegur
Slugs Lesbiur
Jet Black Joe Higher and higher
The Viking Giant Show Chemicals
The Pet Cemetery Cold hands
Texas Jésus Salatbar
Sin Fang Bous Catch the light
Múgsefjun Dag eftir dag
Rúnar Júliusson & Hjálmar Blæbrigði lífsins
2009
Bob Justman Most of all
Dr. Spock Doctor Patient Relationship
Ruddinn I need a vacation
Toggi Silly Old Song
7oi The problems are complicated
Klive Don’t give up the ghost
Sólstafir Köld
Maus Poppaldin

I found this blog mentioned in the Iceland Online Mini Guide - Made by Nanna Árnadóttir & Published on Saturday @ http://www.icelandreview.com/
> Daily Life (21. February)
I Heart Icelandic Music:

Is another well-known and excellent blog that essentially stalks the Icelandic music scene. If there is an Icelandic artist that interests you chances are you can find out about them and or read an interview with them on this blog. It also announces tour dates and posts videos of live gigs around Reykjavik.

sunnudagur, febrúar 22, 2009

Sigur Rós goes Acoustic (Paris, 2007)

Sigur Rós
"Njósnavélin" acoustic version (LesInrocks.com)
www.youtube.com/v/OkC2840qHiE&hl&fmt=18

Trommari: Icelandic Drummers Website

Ólafur Arnalds, as drummer of hardcore band Fighting Shit
I found an interesting website about drummers in Iceland, Trommari: www.trommari.is.
Drummer of the week is Hrafnkell Örn Guðjónsson of the band Agent Fresco, Iceland's Brightest Hope.
Visit the section with in action photographs @
www.trommari.is/index.php/islenskir-trommuleikarar

Remix Steed Lord's Song "You"

CAN "YOU" REMIX ???
Remix the first song that Steed Lord ever made:"YOU".
Here is the a capella, instrumental and the original all newly mixed:
http://internet.is/steedlord/mp3/you.zip to start from.
In 122 bpm. No stems. No seeds ... Just the sticky icky icky!
Send YOUR REMIX to Steed Lord when you've uploaded it with zshare.net or yousendit:
steedlord@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/steedlord

Rúnar Júlíusson Tribute Concert / Minningartónleikar 2. May 2009

Rúnar Júlíusson Minningartónleikar
Geimsteinn & Bravó! organize a Tribute Concert for Herra Rokk Rúnar Júlíusson, Iceland's rock legend who suddenly died last year.
These artists & bands are already confirmed to play @ Laugardalshöll 2. May:
Áhöfnin á Halastjörnunni, Bjartmar Guðlaugs, Björgvin Halldórsson, Buff (Lónlí blú bojs syrpa), Deep Jimi and the Zep Creams, Eiríkur Hauksson (GCD syrpa), Hjaltalín, Hljómar, Jóhann Helgason, Karlakór Keflavíkur, Krummi, KK, Lifun, Páll Óskar, Unun & Helgi Björns, Sálin hans Jóns míns, Stuðmenn and Trúbrot & Krummi.
The Ticket Sale starts 5. March @ Midi: www.midi.is
Price of tickets:
A+ svæði: 9.900 IKR (salur nær sviði)
A svæði: 7.900 IKR (salur fjær sviði)
B svæði: 6.900 IKR (stúka fyrir miðju)
C svæði: 3.900 IKR (stúka til hliðanna)
or one day earlier 4. March on Bravo! Website (póstlista) @ 10:00
www.bravo.is/postlisti/
"Gott er að gefa" Live on TV
www.youtube.com/v/-WnbPJ_vdqo&hl&fmt=18

www.runarjul.is

laugardagur, febrúar 21, 2009

Emiliana Torrini @ Rock Werchter Festival 2009

And the Icelanders keep on coming to perform on Belgian stages this year.
Emiliana Torrini will be playing @ Rock Werchter festival in Belgium on 2. July 2009.
www.rockwerchter.be
Source:
www.emilianatorrini.com
"Unemployed in summertime" Live @ Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (February 2009)
www.youtube.com/v/xWV-qw_plY0&hl&fmt=18

föstudagur, febrúar 20, 2009

Hjaltalín "Þú komst við hjartað í mér" on Norwegian TV

Hjaltalín
Watch them performing the Paul Oscar cover "Þú komst við hjartað í mér" (You touched my heart) on the site of the Norwegian TV2 @
www.tv2.no/gmn/musikk/article2561602.ece
Hjaltalín MySpace:
www.myspace.com/hjaltalinband

Movie Score by Sigur Rós Keyboardplayer Kjartan

Kjartan Sveinsson is set to write the original score to "Ondine", a new film by Neil Jordan. In addition to Kjartan’s score, a few songs by Sigur Rós will appear in the film.

fimmtudagur, febrúar 19, 2009

Dust: "Personal Rock Star" Video

Dust
"Personal Rock Star"


www.myspace.com/dustxxx

Interview with For a Minor Reflection by It's a trap

Interview by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos

For A Minor Reflection

have got a very mature sound, especially if you take into consideration that these guys are only 19 years old. References to Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai are unavoidable, but already being compared to such established acts is a big achievement for these young Icelanders. Last autumn they supported in 15 concerts across Europe fellow countrymen Sigur Rós. It's a Trap! went out for a drink with them and discovered that apart from good musicians they are very friendly and down to earth chaps.
How did you guys form?
Kjartan Holm (Kjarri), guitar: We basically started in 8th grade, when we were 13. Jói and I started this heavy metal duet in his garage with long hair and stuff. Elvar came and played bass. Then Guffi came.
Guðfinnur Sveinsson (Guffi), guitar: (Laughs) We met during a strip poker game! He invited me then to a band practice...
Why did you name the band 'For A Minor Reflection'? What does it mean?
KH: It actually doesn't mean anything. I don't remember actually how it was conceived. We thought "reflection" was a cool word and we wanted to use it.
What is exactly on the cover of your album?
KH: It is supposed to be a sun.
Jóhannes Ólafsson (Jói), drums: We drew it together.
How do you write your songs? Is there a standard procedure?
JO: There is no standard procedure. There is no method I guess, but we do it together eventually, but the idea maybe comes from Kjarri first and then we build around it and make the song structure around his ideas.
KH: We maybe write a song in two days but it takes like 50 years to develop it.
How was the experience of playing with Sigur Rós?
KH, JO: It was very surreal.
JO: We didn't realise what we were doing until we came home.
Which is the largest gig you did with them?
KH: In Alexandra Palace in London. It was 8500 people two nights in a row.
And without them?
KH: We played this gig in Iceland for 500 Japanese people on a large cruise ship that was sailing around the world.
Do you prefer the big gigs or rather more intimate settings?
KH: When we play in really small bars in Iceland in front of 200 people, when it's packed it has a really good character.
JO: On the other hand, it's fun playing on a very large stage.
KH: It's two different things I would say.
Would you ever consider getting a singer?
KH: We've been actually discussing that. We are going to make some experiments next week; if it fails we'll just stay instrumental.
Do you accept the post-rock tag?
KH: We really don't care.
How do you feel about the emerging Icelandic scene and what do you think sets the Icelandic music scene apart from the rest of Scandinavia?
KH: Iceland is pretty well known for these "weird" bands like Sigur Rós, Björk and múm. But Iceland has these really good heavy metal and hardcore punk scene, really big scene. And it seems to be turning into some indie rock scene. So Iceland is not only the ambient stuff.
Are there any other Icelandic artists you respect and admire?Elvar J. Guðmundsson, bass: Ólafur Arnolds. He's getting big in Germany and all over the world.
KH: And Sigur Rós of course. My favourite Icelandic rock band is Sudden Weather Change. They are kind of big in Iceland, but nobody knows them outside.
What are you currently listening at home?
KH: We really don't listen to the same music. I like hardcore, post-rock, jazz, Icelandic blues.
GS: I listen to Coldplay a lot.
KH: Yeah, Guffi is the sensitive one.
How did the economic crisis impact your life and music?
GS: (Laughs) We all live in the streets. We get food from the government.
How are the recordings for the second album going? When is it going to be finished?
KH: We are working on it. Hopefully we will start recording later this year.
Are you going to have a different approach this time?
JO: The last time we recorded an album was in a garage, small studio, we did it all live in the first take, and it only took us 6 hours. We were mixing the whole night before the day we released it.
Any plans for the future?
KH: Hopefully we can work as musicians. That's our main goal.
www.myspace.com/foraminorreflection
Source:
www.itsatrap.com/?n=29221

Icelandic Music Awards 2008: The Winners

Íslensku tónlistarverðlaunin fyrir verk ársins 2008
Last night 18. February 2009 these were the winners of the Icelandic Music Awards 2008:
Höfundur ársins/Composer of the Year
Sigur Rós – for writing the songs of "Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust"
Tónverk ársins/Composition of the Year
"Ora" – Áskell Másson
Lag ársins/Song of the Year
"Þú komst við hjartað í mér" – Toggi/Bjarki Jónsson/Páll Óskar
Tónlistarflytjandi ársins/Concert of the Year
Anna Guðný Guðmundsdóttir – "Tuttugu tillit til Jesúbarnsins" by Olivier Messiaen
Rödd ársins/Voice of the Year
Emilíana Torrini
Popp/rokkplata ársins/Pop/Rock Album of the Year
"Með suð í eyrum við syngjum endalaust" – Sigur Rós
Sígild og samtímatónlist/Classic & Contemporary Music Album of the Year
"Fordlandia" – Jóhann Jóhannsson
Djass/Jazz Album of the Year
"Fram af" – Ómar Guðjónsson
Bjartasta vonin/Brightest hope
Agent Fresco



www.youtube.com/v/trjSxPIYRTg&hl&fmt=18

Myndband ársins/Video of the Year
Björk & Encyclopedia Pictura for "Wanderlust"
Album Cover of the Year
Kate vonHarreveld & Helgi Þórsson for "Demoni Paradiso" (Evil Madness)

mánudagur, febrúar 16, 2009

Helgi Rafn Jónsson on Tour in Scandinavia & USA in February & March 2009

Helgi Rafn Jónsson is on tour to promote his New Album "For the Rest of my Childhood". This Album was already released in Denmark in November 2008.
The upcoming shows:
February
Feb 14 Debaser Medis Stockholm, SE
Feb 18 Klubb Fritz Corner Stockholm, SE
Feb 19 Herrgårn Linköping, SE
Feb 20 Semifinal Club Helsinki, FI
Feb 26 Huset Copenhagen, DK
Feb 27 Musikcaféen Aarhus, DK
March
Mar 1 Vega w/Hakan Hellström Copenhagen, DK
Mar 4 TBA Reykjavik, Iceland
Mar 8 The Roxy w/Tina Dico Los Angeles, California
Mar 9 Cafe du Nord w/Tina Dico San Fransisco, California
Mar 10 Triple Door w/Tina Dico Seattle, Washington
Mar 20 SXSW w/Tina Dico Austin, Texas
Mar 22 Schubas w/Tina Dico Chicago, Illinois
Mar 24 Highline Ballroom w/T.D. New York, New York
www.myspace.com/helgijonsson

In The Spotlight @ IMX: Sin Fang Bous - Interview with Sindri

Sin Fang Bous a.k.a. Sindri Mar Sigfusson, is traditionally known as the founder/frontman of Icelandic sensations Seabear. Though Seabear began as Sindri’s one-man project - he self-released the debut “Singing Arc” (2004) on his own – the project has gradually grown to encompass anything up to seven members.
After putting out the glorious “The Ghost That Carried Us Away” in 2007, Sindri has once again returned to his solo origins, renaming himself Sin Fang Bous to release “Clangour”. Recorded and self-produced in his home studio, it sounds like he had a lot of fun making it.
More electronic and upbeat than Seabear, it’s full of Animal Collective-style pop melodies, an esoteric rainbow of sounds and a savvy balance of the accessible and the experimental. IMX meet the maestro ofclangourous pop…

So first of all, what’s the story behind the mysterious name?
I wanted to have a name that didn’t mean anything so I made it up. Sin because of Sindri, Fang because I felt some of my teeth looked like fangs and Bous because I needed a last name. It is of course a way too long and complicated name. No-one can remember it or knows how to pronounce it. I pronounce it Sin Fang Bous (booze).
Did you have an idea of what you wanted to do with Clangour or did you just dive in headfirst?
I just recorded lots of stuff. I didn’t know how it was going to turn out but that was one of the thoughts behind it. I did lots of random improvised stuff and then of course only used a tiny bit of it. I think at some point I wanted to make a really chaotic pop album.
And do you think that’s what you’ve achieved now it’s done?

I think I’m pretty happy with it. I haven’t listened to it in a while though because after the recording/mixing/mastering process you're so sick of it. I'll listen to it in a couple of years and then I'll know if I’m happy with it.
It sounds like you had access to a lot of instruments…you must have an interesting studio. Or did you borrow some from other Seabear members too?
Well I've been collecting instruments for a while so most of the instruments I played were mine but yep, I used some of the instruments the guys had in my studio.
You seem to enjoy playing with found sounds and eccentric noises - where does that particular passion stem from?
When I started out trying to make music I didn’t play any instruments. I had some sound editing programs on my computer and was always recording stuff on my Minidisc player and playing with the sounds. I actually used lots of that stuff on the album.
Did you play everything on the album?
Yes. That was one of my rules for this album. Lots of my friends are musicians and its pretty easy to get them to play for me, but I wanted to see if I could make a whole album with me playing everything. I’m not the best percussion person in the world so it was a challenge but fun.
It sounds like you fulfilled some kind of personal mission with Clangour…

One of the foundations of this album was the sentence "listen to your crazy voice". I heard an artist say this in some DVD interview when I was in art school. I can’t remember his name but he said he always tried to listen hard to his crazy voice when he was making art. I think everyone has a crazy voice somewhere in the back of your head and I tried to listen to it when I was making this album. I also wanted to be a bit brave with my voice so i was singing a bit above my range and doing all sorts of experiments with it. And I wanted to play all the instruments myself on the album. I had lots of little missions on this album.
Soppy question I know, but who would you regard as your main influences, musically or otherwise over the years?
I’m not sure what my influences are as I don’t think about it that much. I always try to do music that I think I would want to listen to myself. The first thing I remember really loving was Michael Jackson. I was pretty obsessed with music as a child. I listened a lot to hip hop and rap and as a teen I listened to the whole post rock thing a lot. Now I listen to lots of old and new music. I follow music blog sites and stuff like that but I also listen to my vinyl records a lot.
What were your favourite Icelandic records of 2008; and what are you most
excited to hear in 2009?
There were lots of great ones… Sigur Rós, FM Belfast, Skakkamanage… and more. I've got high hopes for 2009 - Hjaltalín and Kimono I’m sure will deliver great albums.
What’s 2009 gonna bring?
I’m touring as Sin Fang Bous in Europe during May/June, and I think a few dates in the US. I’m working on a new album and maybe it will be out in the end of 2009 if I’m really hard working. Seabear will release an album and an EP in the fall/winter. There will also be some festivals this summer, in Europe and a US tour when the album comes out.
www.myspace.com/sinfangbous
"Clangour and Flutes" Video

Source:
Iceland Music Export (IMX)

99. Song of the Week: Sólstafir's "Köld"

Nearly 100 weeks of posting Icelandic artists: brand new songs and classical songs. This week it's time for some Icelandic metal music, for the Sigur Rós of the metal scene: Sólstafir.
Sólstafir's song 'Köld" is the Song of the 99. Week.
www.myspace.com/solstafir

sunnudagur, febrúar 15, 2009

Lay Low Live @ Café Rósenberg 27. January 2009

Lay Low & guitarist @ Rósenberg Café, downtown Reykjavik (Klapparstigur)
"Please don't hate me"
www.youtube.com/v/TCiP9Q0J1xI&hl&fmt=18

www.myspace.com/baralovisa

"Can't walk away" Herbert Guðmundsson Live @ Logi Bergmann

Herbert Guðmundsson played his international hit single live on the Icelandic tv.
"Can't walk away"
www.youtube.com/v/1Va9pOgTF8c&hl&fmt=18

Norðrið Iceland Express Musik Klub / Icelandic Music Club Founded in Germany - Lay Low Concerts in March 2009

Norðrið – Iceland to tour Germany monthly!
Iceland Music Export (IMX), Iceland Express and Admirals Palast theatre (Berlin) have forged an innovative agreement to tour Icelandic musicians in Germany every month starting in March, 2009.
Working alongside other promoters from Hamburg and Cologne, this partnership aims to help Icelandic musicians harvest opportunities in Germany. The initial tour will pass through the major German cities of Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin, though there are plans to include venues in Frankfurt and Munich soon. The inaugural tour will feature much-hyped blues singer Lay Low and future events will ensure a savvy mix of established musicians and up and coming artists.
IMX MD Anna Hildur Hildibransdóttir, responsible for co-ordinating the partnership, says: “This is a truly exciting project. Germany has been growing as a market for Icelandic music in the past few years. Many Icelandic musicians have found a home in Germany through labels, publishing companies, managers or agents. Because of that we feel it‘s the right time now for IMX to make Germany a focus market and motivate the opportunities we see. This project also offers close collaboration with the people who are organising Iceland as a host country for the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2011. Norðrið will be a good warm up and trial period for us: by using these cultural events to boost Iceland’s profile in Germany, we can start preparing for more music events.
Icelander Helgi Björnsson, Director of Admirals Palast, has lived in Berlin for several years. He agrees that Germany offers great opportunities. “There is a lot of interest in Icelandic culture here, not least in terms of music,” he comments. “Many Icelandic artists live in Berlin and it’s an increasingly popular destination for Icelandic students.“
Matthías Imsland, MD at Iceland Express, claims Norðrið to be an interesting experiment in reaching out to younger tourists in Germany and raising the profile of the vibrant Icelandic music scene. “We are hoping that Icelandic artists will increase the interest in visiting Iceland by younger Germans. Berlin has been a very popular destination for us, as it is a fantastically cultural city and affordable in comparison with other European cities. But we want to see more people coming from Berlin to Iceland. Norðrið is a great concept and suits our aims of increasing support for cultural activities. Iceland Express is, for example, one of the biggest supporters of the Reykjavik Arts Festival this year.”
Other supporters of Norðrið initiative include Sagenhaftes Island (who will prepare Iceland to be the host country for the 2011 Frankfurt Book Fair), The Icelandic Embassy in Berlin, The Icelandic Foreign Ministry and Visit Reykjavík.
Source: IMX
www.icelandmusic.is

Icelandic Music Club established in Germany
Iceland Music Export (IMX), Iceland Express and the Admiralspalast theater in Berlin established an Icelandic music club in Germany this week with the purpose of helping young Icelandic bands to promote their music in the country.
“Germany is growing as a market for Icelandic music. Many Icelandic musicians have been signed by German record labels or have German agents and booking offices,” said Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdóttir, managing director of IMX, adding, “It is therefore the right time for IMX to direct its attention to Germany.”
The club is organizing a series of concerts in cities across Germany; in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg to begin with. Singer-songwriter Lay Low will be the first to participate in the projects with concerts scheduled in Germany next month.
The club was the idea of Icelandic Express, which donates at least six plane tickets to participants in the project every month.
Other partners include Sagenhaftes Island, which is promoting Icelandic literature in Germany in relation to Iceland being the honorary guest at the 2011 Frankfurt book fair, the Icelandic Embassy in Berlin, Iceland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Reykjavík Marketing Office.
First artist is Lay Low:
Lay Low concerts in Germany
9. March 2009 @ 20:00 Prinzenbar @ Hamburg
10. March 2009 @ 20:00 Admiralspalast Studio @ Berlin
11. March 2009 @ 21:00 Studio 672 @ Cologne
www.myspace.com/baralovisa
Source: Iceland Review
www.icelandreview.com