mánudagur, desember 28, 2009

Duplex # 3 on Saturday 2. January 2010 - Third Time @ Three Spots: Batteríið / Sódóma / Bakkus

Duplex # 3
Saturday 2. January 2010
@ Batteríið (Hafnarstræti 3)
@ Sódóma (Tryggvagata 22)
Extra this time: Fine Wine Bar Bakkus
Doors @ 21:00
Start @ 21:30

Admission: 1500 IKR
(You get a wristband)
Tickets @ MIDI

Program
Dikta
Sin Fang Bous
Hudson Wayne
Rökkurró
kimono
For a Minor Reflection
Foreign Monkeys
Sunday Parlours
Previous programs
Duplex #1: XXX Rottweiler, Sykur, Snorri Helga, Nolo, dj Musician & Retro Stefson
Duplex #2: Bloodgroup, Agent Fresco, Útidúr, Lára, Mikado, Me, the Slumbering Napoleon, Morðingjarnir, Koi & Pascal Pinon

Ultra Mega Technóbandið Stefán, Útidúr, Mukkaló & Ljósvaki 29. December 2009 @ Grand Rokk

Ultra Mega Technóbandið Stefán, Útidúr, Mukkaló & Ljósvaki
29. December 2009
Grand Rokk venue @ Smiðjustígur 6
Admission: 500 IKR
Start @ 22:00
UMTBS Live in the early morning @ Bar Prikið @ Iceland Airwaves 2009
www.youtube.com/v/CTXWBKu_CiA&hl&fmt=18

Song of the 144. Week: Nóra "Opin fyrir morði"

The 144. Song of the Week is Nóra's "Opin fyrir morði".
The band Nóra traces its roots back to a dark garage on the west side of Reykjavik. There, brother & sister Egill Viðarsson (vocals, guitar) & Auður Viðarsdóttir (vocals, keyboards), started making music back in 2006, along with their good friend Hrafn Fritzson on bass. The band was fully formed two years later when the trio was joined by drummer Bragi Páll Sigurðarson and guitar/mandolin/whatever-ist Frank Arthur Blöndahl Cassata. The band was quite busy in 2009, playing local venues and festivals.


MusicPlaylist


Nóra @ MySpace

sunnudagur, desember 27, 2009

PS22 Chorus goes Björk: "Jóga"

PS22 Chorus covered a Björk Song:
"Jóga"
www.youtube.com/v/OKPC-T3jjRg&hl&fmt=18

PS22 Chorus Blog

Book about the 100 Best Icelandic Albums ever: "100 Bestu Plötur Íslandssögunnar"

Music journalists Arnar Eggert Thoroddsen & Jónatan Garðarsson wrote a book illustrated with a lot of photographs about the 100 Best Icelandic Albums in history: "100 Bestu plötur Íslandssögunnar", published earlier this year.





Best Icelandic Albums of 2009 according to Fréttablaðið Newspaper Journalists


Best Icelandic Album of 2009: Bloodgroup's "Dry land" *****
5 stars for Bloodgroup
4 stars (Björk & others) - 3 stars (Á Móti Sól & others) - 2 stars (Cosmic Call & others)
The band Bloodgroup is a bit angry after a gig some days ago @ Reykjavik to Rotterdam festival for about only 40 people & some trouble with their flying tickets.

The Silent Ballet - The Icelandic section selection

Recently I've got an e-mail of Richard Allen who sometimes writes for The Silent Ballet Website. He wrote a well written review of Airwaves 2008. You can read it here.
Found more Icelandic stuff:
A review of FaMR Debut Album: Zach Mills' Review of FaMR (5/10)
A review of Ólafur Arnalds "Dyad 1909" Album here (7/10)
J.J. "Fordlandia" (8.5/10)

Some Kópavogur Punk Legends in an Exhibition

CRASS in Iceland
Teenager Björk
Rokk í Reykjavík - An axe
See this axe in use:
Sjálfsfróun (Masturbation), teenage punks, notorious for their glue sniffing
"Lollipops"
www.youtube.com/v/X1BD1ss1R-k&hl&fmt=18

Purrkur Pillnikk
For those who didn't go the Punk Exhibition @ Kópavogur (closed now).
Here's an impression:
The rehearsal spots on a 3D map
The flyer/booklet

The History of the punk scene in Kópavogur
1978-1983

Watch a video of Fræbbblarnir @ the museum
here.

I went to see last October with Heiða Eiríks & Elvar of the band Hellvar.
You got the possibility to get dressed like a punk, not a big difference for Heiða anyway
Heiða Hanging on the telephone...
Elvar going underground
"Be courageous if you use the underground passage,
the youngsters don't bite"

(this passage was the favorite hangout place of the punk scene years ago)
Thx to my drivers Heiða & Elvar

Jóhann Jóhannsson Radio Session @ Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Spring 2009)

Jóhann Jóhannsson, together with Matthias Hemstock, Ivo Stankov, James Underwood, Charlotte Rook & Emma Owens playing a live radio session @ Rotterdam, The Netherlands in the spring of 2009.
"Melodia"
www.youtube.com/v/yjrblnXnxkQ&hl&fmt=18

"Englaborn"
www.youtube.com/v/OkPjKI_bScs&hl&fmt=18

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Jóhann G. Jóhannsson "Kveðjuorð" Video

Jóhann G. Jóhannsson
"Kveðjuorð", a song of the Album "Á langri leið"
www.youtube.com/v/OMfqyPNORsw&hl&fmt=18

Icelandic Artists & Icelandic Label Artists on Stage in Belgium in 2010

Lost in Belgium
Not only Mugison is coming over in February. JJ definitely loves Flanders.
Tuesday 9. February Hildur Gudnadóttir & Jóhann Jóhannsson @ Cultuurcentrum (Hasselt)
Friday 12. February Jóhann Jóhannsson @ De Spil (Roeselare)
Thursday 25. February Mugison & Helgi Hrafn Jónsson & FM Belfast @ Botanique (Brussel). More info @ Botanique
Helgi Hrafn @ BalconyTV
www.youtube.com/v/gy8fQAFIjso&hl&fmt=18

On Monday 19. April Bedroom Community Label Artists on Whale Watching Tour Valgeir Sigurðsson & Nico Muhly & Ben Frost & Sam Amidon @ Vooruit (Gent) More info here.
Whale Watching Tour @ Madrid
www.youtube.com/v/LvKTyPGwb2c&hl&fmt=18

Takk Leo Verbeke.

laugardagur, desember 26, 2009

Mugison on Tour in Europe from 17-28. February 2010

Mugison's European Tour 17-28. February 2010
France - Luxembourg - The Netherlands - Belgium - The UK - Poland
17/02/10 : Musiques Volantes Night @ Trinitaires – Metz (F)
18/02/10 : Cave A Musiques – Macon (F)
19/02/10 : Musiques Volantes @ Exit 07 – Luxembourg (LUX)
20/02/10 : One Man Band Festival @ La Cave au Poetes – Roubaix (F)
21/02/10 : Super Mon Amour Fest – Paris (F)
23/02/10 : DB – Utrecht (NL)
24/02/10 : Paard - Den Haag (NL)
25/02/10 : Rotonde/Botanique – Brussels (B)
26/02/10 : Academy – Manchester (UK)
27/02/10 : The Monto – London (UK)
28/02/10 : Centre of Culture – Bytom (PL)
Mugison's Website in Icelandic
Mugison's Website in English
A poem for Mugison by Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl Live in Icelandic TV Show "Logi í beinni"
"Swing ding"
www.youtube.com/v/38gnJuXpmWo&hl&fmt=18

Apparat Organ Quartet Live @ Reykjavik Art Museum @ Iceland Airwaves 2006

Professor Batty made a nice video of Apparat Organ Quartet live @ Reykjavik Art museum @ Airwaves '06. I was standing somewhere in the front in the middle. A was a pitty they didn't play @ Airwaves '09, but after 2 years not performing on Icelandic ground, Apparat performed @ Réttir (Reykjavik Round-Up) festival in September 2009.
"Cruise Control"
www.youtube.com/v/X_wEVF3z4co&hl&fmt=18

föstudagur, desember 25, 2009

Sigur Rós Live Tracks "Tíu Lifandi": A celebration of 10 years of live music with much gratitude from the fans

To celebrate the 100.000 visitors on this Sigur Rós Blogspot, the maker has put this online:
Tíu Lifandi
3 CD with live recordings:
CD 1 mp3 download
CD 2 mp3 download
CD 3 mp3 download
Rapidshare alternative links:
CD 1 FLAC Part 1 Part2
CD 2 FLAC Part 1 (Part 2)
CD 3 FLAC Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Live Tracks of CD 1
1 Mílanó
2 Nýja Lagið
3 Samskyeti
4 Viðrar vel til loftárása
5 Vaka
6 Alafoss
7 Salka
8 E-Bow
Live Tracks of CD 2
1 Hafssól
2 Sven-G-Englar
3 Njósnavélin
4 Samskifa
5 Andvari
6 Festival
7 Guitardjamm
8 Starálfur
9 All Alright
Live Tracks of CD 3
1 Von
2 Ný Batterí
3 Gong-Andvari
4 Dauðalagið
5 Fyrsta
6 Popplagið
7 Ágætis Byrjun
Album cover @waguzman.deviantart: birds 4548088

Dr. Gunni Top 10 of Best Icelandic Albums of 2009

More lists...
Here's Dr. Gunni's TOP 10 of 2009
Bestu íslenskar plötur ársins according to Gunnar L. Hjálmarsson
1. Hjaltalín - Terminal
2. Bloodgroup - Dry land
3. Morðingjarnir - Flóttinn mikli
4. Hank & Tank - Songs for the birds
5. Múm - Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know
5. Feldberg - Don't Be A Stranger
6. Hjálmar - IV
7. Hermigervill - Leikur vinsæl íslenzk lög
8. Hallur & Halldóra - Disaster songs
9. Kimono - Easy Music For Diffficult People
10. Caterpillarmen - Adopt a monkey
Dr. Gunni

Topp 20 Árslisti Rjómans - Rjóminn's Top 20 Best Icelandic Albums of 2009

TOP 20 Árslisti Rjómans
Topp 20 íslenskar plötur
Rjóminn's TOP 20 Icelandic Albums of 2009

#20

Lights On The Highway

Amanita Muscaria

18hildur

#18-20

Hildur Guðnadóttir

Without Sinking

18feldberg

#18-20

Feldberg

Don’t Be a Stranger

17prins

#17

Prins Póló

Einn heima

14retron

#14-16

Retrön

Swordplay & Guitarslay

14hoffman

#14-16

Hoffman

Your Secrets Are Safe With Us

14eberg

#14-16

Eberg

Antidote

12utidur

#12-13

Útidúr

Í göngutúr

12snorri

#12-13

Snorri Helgason

I’m Gonna Put My Name On Your Door

11jonsialex

#11

Jónsi & Alex

Riceboy Sleeps

8pascal

#8-10

Pascal Pinon

Pascal Pinon

8mum

#8-10

múm

Sing Along to Songs You Don’t Know

8hermigervill

#8-10

Hermigervill

Leikur vinsæl íslenzk lög

7skatar

#7

Skátar

Goth báðum megin

Skátar eru einbeittari og þéttari en áður á pottþéttri tveggja laga EP plötu sem sameinar allt það besta við hljómsveitina. Frábær endir á ferli Skáta.

6ruxpin

#6

Ruxpin

Where Do We Float From Here?

5hjaltalin

#5

Hjaltalín

Terminal

4sudden

#4

Sudden Weather Change

Stop! Handgrenade in the Name Of Crib Death ‘nderstand?

3bloodgr

#3

Bloodgroup

Dry Land

2hjalmar

#2

Hjálmar

IV

1kimono

#1 Kimono "Easy Music For Difficult People"

Individual TOP 10:

Egill Harðar
1. Kimono – Easy Music For Difficult People
2. Hermigervill – Leikur Vinsæl Íslensk lög
3. Hjálmar – IV
4. múm – Singa Along to Songs that You Don’t Know
5. Hjaltalín – Terminal
6. Hoffman – Your Secrets Are Safe With Us
7. Útidúr – Í Göngutúr
8. Lights on the highway – Amanita Muscaria
9. Bloodgroup – Dry Land
10. Dikta – Get it together

Guðmundur Vestmann
1. Sudden Weather Change – Stop! Handgrenade in the Name Of Crib Death’nderstand?
2. Kimono – Easy Music for Difficult People
3. Hjálmar – IV
4. Bloodgroup – Dry Land
5. Snorri Helgason – I’m Gonna Put My Name On Your Door
6. Retrön – Swordplay & Guitarslay
7. Pascal Pinon – Pascal Pinon
8. Ruxpin – Where Do We Float From Here
9. Hjaltalín – Terminal
10. Útidúr – Í göngutúr

Hildur Maral Hamíðsdóttir
1. Hjálmar -IV
2. Ruxpin – Where Do We Float From Here
3. Hjaltalín – Terminal
4. Sudden Weather Change - Stop! Handgrenade in the Name of Crib Death‘nderstand?
5. Bloodgroup – Dry Land
6. Pascal Pinon – Pascal Pinon
7. Kimono – Easy Music for Difficult People
8. Hildur Guðnadóttir - Without Sinking
9. Víkingur Heiðar – Debut
10. Morðingjarnir – Flóttinn mikli

Pétur Valsson
1. Skátar – Goth báðum megin
2. Bloodgroup – Dry Land
3. Jónsi & Alex – Riceboy Sleeps
4. Kimono – Easy Music For Difficult People
5. Sudden Weather Change – Stop! Handgrenade in the Name of Crib Death‘nderstand?
6. Eberg – Antidote
7. Prins Póló – Einn heima
8. Feldberg – Don’t Be A Stranger
9. múm – Sing Along To Songs You Don’t Know
10. Útidúr – í gönguferð

Rjóminn

Rökkurró Recording Second Album - Video Diary # 2

Rökkurró recording with Alex Somers
www.youtube.com/v/UmOti7vF0Bo&hl&fmt=18

Rökkurró @ MySpace

þriðjudagur, desember 22, 2009

Bloodgroup in the Spotlight @ IMX

Bloodgroup
The Hippest Nerds Around

Bloodgroup

Bloodgroup are known as one of the most innovative, powerful and entertaining live acts in Iceland, and they have been busy playing music festivals in Europe and America, as well as playing independent shows since the release of their debut album. Their second album "Dry Land" is a product of Bloodgroups studio sessions for the last year and a half and has been frequent on "Best of 2009" lists in Iceland. The album has be available in record stores in Iceland since 2. December, and is scheduled to be distributed to the rest of the world early next year (2010).
IMX caught up with lead singer Lilja Jónsdóttir upon their return from a well received Ja Ja Ja night in London.
First up, tell us all about your new album, Dry Land - how does it sound and who is involved etc?
It sounds a bit more serious than our last album, and more melodic. Raggi, Hallur, Janus and I wrote, recorded and produced all the songs. Ólafur Arnalds wrote the strings.
Where was it recorded and how did you tackle it (any prior ideas about what you wanted to do? or more studio spontaneity?)
The album was mostly recorded in our own studio, Studio Síld. We have been working on the album for over a year, so much of the music on the album was recorded and written gradually over time. We didn't really have many prior ideas, we just made what came to mind and stopped when we felt it was ready.
It's been a while since SS - what have y'all been doing in the meantime?
Well we've been quite busy touring, besides that we've spent every day in the studio.
Obviously you've been playing a lot of gigs - any particular highlights? Which country has the most responsive crowds / knows how to party hardest?
We played an awesome gig in Berlin in 2007, in a gay bar called Schwutz (or something like that). A bunch of crazy lesbians trying to rip Janus' clothes off...that can't go wrong.
Bloodgroup actually started out as a live act rather than a studio band, is that right?
Well I guess we look at it like two seperate things, writing and recording music, and then take that music and turning it into a live show. The songs sometimes sound pretty different from what they sound like on an album.
In our last interview you mentioned that you had more rock than electronic backgrounds - how come the focus switched? Was there a trigger, event or process?
No, not really. When we started it was just Raggi and I, and some friends. Raggi developed an interrest in electronic music, and then the rest of the guys got sucked into it. Now we're major electronic geeks.
Is there a big electronic / dance scene in Iceland these days?
Yes, it is relatively big, but we don't really consider ourselves a part of that scene, since our focus is mainly on melodic pop music with bassy beats, rather than full on dance music. The electronic scene has some promising names, like FM Belfast and Sykur.
What kinds of electronic or dance artists (local or international) have influenced or impressed you?
We all love bands like Daft Punk, Aphex Twin and The Knife. Those are probably the main electronic bands that influenced us into doing our kind of music.
If you're in a club getting your party on and people aren't bouncing around, what's your tactic for getting their asses shaking?
We always try to play a good show. Many of our new songs have less to do with dance, so it's not really that big of a problem if people don't dance. We just want them to have fun. If we're playing a gig where the goal is to get people dancing, we just try to have as much fun as we can on stage. By doing that, we hope to influence people in the audience and make them have fun too.
What's the wisest thing anyone has ever said to you with regards to music?
It's not the notes or the chords, it's the silence in between (a drunk guy at a bar somewhere).
One of the band is Faroese: does he live in Iceland or is this an international relationship?
He lives in Reykjavík, since 2008.
Are you still performing with DJ Benni?
No.
What are your plans now the album is out? Tours? Singles? World Domination?
We have a single out, "My Arms", and we hope to release the next single early next year. Our next step is to release the album world-wide and tour Europe in the summer of 2010. Then, world domination!
Bloodgroup's Website
Source:
IMX

TOP 10 Icelandic Albums of 2009

My TOP 10 Icelandic Albums 2009
Bestu 10 íslensku plötur ársins
1. Sudden Weather ChangeStop! Handgrenade In The Name Of Crib Death ´nderstand?”: Not the best album cover, not the best album title, but just the best album of 2009. Energetic & raw rock, not for pussies.
2. MorðingjarnirFlóttinn mikli”: A grown-up punkrock album.
3. Lady & Bird La Ballade of Lady & Bird - A Project by Keren Ann Zeidel & Barði Jóhannsson”: Best French/Icelandic collaboration ever, a nice collection of live recordings.
4. Hafdis HuldSynchronised Swimmers”: Sweet pop music by a sweet lover.
5. EbergAntidote”: Einar Tönberg is back with more twinkling tunes.
6. BlóðFólkið heimtar Blóð”: Includes best song lyrics of 2009 (“Icesave”).
7. KimonoEasy music for difficult people”: Indie music like it’s meant to be.
8. DYSAndspyrna”: Best “kreppa” album – 2 for the price of 1 – with apocalyptic & visionary lyrics about the crisis.
9. Dr. Gunni Inniheldur”: As prescribed by the doctor.
10. Singapore Sling Perversity, Desperation and Death”: For people who like black.
10bis
BloodgroupDry land
SykurFrábært eða frábært
Worm is greenGlow
Stereo HypnosisHypnogogia
GusGus24/7
Looking forward in 2010 for Ólafur Arnalds’ collaboration with Barði Jóhannsson as producer, new Seabear, the Captain Fufanu debut album, second Hellvar album?, second Dýrdin album?
More lists @ IMX

mánudagur, desember 21, 2009

Jólahátíð Kölska - Kölski Label Christmas Concert 26. December 2009

Jólahátíð Kölska
Kölski Label Night

26. December 2009
@ Sódóma Reykjavík
@ 23:59
Admission: 1500 IKR
With the bands Dikta & Ourlives who both released an album on Kölski Label this year

Dikta Album "Get it Together"

Ourlives Album "We Lost The Race"

Two Supporting Acts are Agent Fresco & Vicky
Tickets here

Klara Ósk "Faðirvorið"

Klara Ósk
"Faðirvorið", a song of the "Ást og tregi" Album with 15 songs of Heimir Sindrason
www.youtube.com/v/fXtSL2dpwOE&hl&fmt=18

Sálin hans Jóns míns "Orginal" Video

Sálin hans Jóns míns
"Orginal"
www.youtube.com/v/CZ2rcM51D4g&hl&fmt=18

Sálin hans Jóns míns Website

Song of the 143. Week: Stafrænn Hákon's Christmas Song "Hátíðarskap"

143. Song of the Week is a Christmas song by Stafrænn Hákon "Hátíðarskap".
Song was recorded/mixed/mastered in late November 2009. All instruments by Ólafur Josephsson. Lead vocals are by Magnús Freyr Gíslason.


MusicPlaylist


European Tour in January/February 2010
19.01.2010 - (UK) London - Bardens Boudoir w/ Codes in the Clouds

21.01.2010 - (IT) Genova - La Claque
22.01.2010 - (AT) Feldkirch - Graf Hugo
23.01.2010 - (IT) Bruneck - UFO
24.01.2010 - (IT) Ferrara - Zuni

26.01.2010 - (HU) Budapest - Zappa Cafe w/ The Ills
27.01.2010 - (PL) Wroclaw - Firlej
28.01.2010 - (DE) Berlin - NBI
29.01.2010 - (DE) Leipzig - Paris Syndrom

01.02.2010 - (UK) Brighton - The Prince Albert
Stafrænn Hákon's Website