Ólöf Arnalds Releases Debut Album in the USA Folk singer Ólöf Arnalds will be releasing her first US release "Við og Við" through One Little Indian on 17. November. This album was produced by Kjartan Sveinsson of Sigur Rós fame. There will be 2 performances: the opening of the Roni Horn Retrospective @ the Whitney Museum of American Art on 6. November where Ólöf performs with Kjartan Sveinsson of Sigur Rós & Rockwood Music Hall on 9. November. "Crazy Car" Live @ Seattle KEXP @ Iceland Airwaves '09 www.youtube.com/v/b9Zpl71RP2c&hl&fmt=18
New Album finished & released in the Spring of 2010 She recently finished recording her 2. Album, "Ókídókí" at Sigur Rós' Sundlaugin Studios with Kjartan Sveinsson as producer once again. The vocals are in English & Icelandic. Ókídókí will be out in Spring 2010. "Klara" www.youtube.com/v/YXR1zeZmhic&hl&fmt=18 Ólöf Arnalds @ MySpace
I saw Klink for the first time @ last Airwaves. Found a Live @ Rock Bar Dillon, Reykjavik Video. "Fire Walk With Me" www.youtube.com/v/WqlejKzeFVg&hl&fmt=18
Mammút Tour Dates in November 2.11.09 @ Berlin, Bang Bang Club (D) 3.11.09 @ Trier, Exhaus (FD 4.11.09 @ Illkirch-Graffenstaden, Stunt Area (F) 7.11.09 @ Madrid, Fotomatón Bar (ESP) 9.11.09 @ Sant Feliu de Codines (Barcelona), Centre Civic La Fonteta (I) 11.11.09 @ Reggio Emilia, La Salumeria del Rock (I) 12.11.09 @ Vicenza, Bar Satea (I) 13.11.09 @ Saarbrücken, Das Modul (D) 14.11.09 @ Thun, Cafe Bar Mokka (CH) 15.11.09 @ Luzern, Treibhaus (CH) 17.11.09 @ Budweis, Velbloud (CH) 18.11.09 @ Plzen, Divadlo Pod Lampou (CH) 19.11.09 @ Erfurt, Stadtgarten (D) 20.11.09 @ Dresden, Ostpol (D) 21.11.09 @ Offenbach, Hafen 2 (D) 23.11.09 @ Hamburg, Astra Stube (D) 25.11.09 @ Copenhagen, Jolene Bar (DK) 27.11.09 @ Växjö, Kafé de Luxe w/ Final Days Society (S) 28.11.09 @ Copenhagen, Lades Kælder (DK) "Rauðilækur" Live @ KEXP Radio @ Iceland Airwaves 2009 www.youtube.com/v/8EV-pE4xaHI&hl&fmt=18
Dísa's "Fast Train", a song from a handmade four song demo EP. Singer Dísa performed in a special one-off performance for the IcelandAirwaves Podcast @ Iðnó. She's joined on guitar & vocals by Mads Mouritz. Shot and edited by Stuart Rogers; the sound was recorded by Dagný Ósk Aradóttir Pind. www.youtube.com/v/86m6H9kFrHk&hl&fmt=18 Dísa @ MySpace
Who Knew / Ljósvaki @ Airwaves 2009 Video: Ljósvaki means "Awaker of Light". I saw him, 'cause its a one man's band, the first time live last April @ Músíktilraunir (Iceland’s version of battle of the bands, Musical Experiments). He won two awards, the competition’s second place and best programmer. This summer he did record an EP. You can get a free download @ his myspace.
3 is the magic number Today this blog celebrates its IIIrd anniversary.
In the beginning there were not so many good resources on Icelandic music, especially in English. I tried to fill that gap on my own. Nowadays more people are posting about Icelandic music online. For those who don't know, this is just a hobby. During daytime I'm a medical doctor in Belgium. For those who don't know, I am not payed to run this site. It is totally independent & not commercial. Just to promote & encourage good Icelandic music/music made in Iceland. Keep on making good music, and I'll keep on posting on this blog. Probably a bit less frequent in the future because of professional & private matters.
Myndlistaskólinn í Reykjavík in Concert Wednesday night 28. Oktober students of the Myndlistaskólanum í Reykjavík School are organizing a concert to support a trip to Czech Republic (Prague). Place 2B: Batterí(previous Organ), Hafnarstræti 1-3. Program: Sykur, Nolo, Bárujárn & Útidúr. Entrance: 500 IKR Start @ 21:00. Sykur Nolo Bárujárn Útidúr
One the spiders in the Icelandic music web is Einar Örn Benediktsson, aka EÖB, involved in many musical & music related projects that arised the last 3 decades in Iceland. He's one of the worst singers in the world, the same people voted for Björk as one of the best. Together they formed the voice of Iceland's most famous pop group The Sugarcubes. Iceland Music Export put one of Einar's project in the Spotlight: Grapewire. Eat the Grapewire Menu!
Grapewire - Delivering Like Pros
Grapewire is an independent digital music resource. With their provocative motto – Create like A Genius, Deliver Like A Pro – they help artists digitise and sell their art. With such prestigious clients as the veteran Sugarcubes-owned record label Smekkleysa, groundbreaking indie label Kimi and acts like Björk, Mugison & GusGus the company has been quietly breaking ground since 2006. IMX talked to founder Einar Örn Benediktsson, former member of TheSugarcubes and one half of experimental project Ghostigital. Where did the concept or inspiration for Grapewire come from? The idea was simply to enable rights owners to digitise their work. Be it artist or label, at the time these services were badly needed. When did you set it up and what was the original 'game plan'? We started at the beginning of the year 2006 and the original gameplan was to provide services that could be utilized by the international digital market. How has it changed or evolved since you started? Early on we realized that providing tools to present and digitally distribute music was just one part of what artists needed. We now have tools to sell everything, not only digital downloads. In the more than 25 projects we power, artist and associated stakeholders sell wooly sweaters, hum boxes, Buddha beads, vinyl, t-shirts and other merchandize. We consider ourselves a one-stop shop for artists looking to establish and maintain a direct-to-fan relationship. A robust and flexible back end is also important to solve the complexity of multiple fulfillment partners. We now also offer aggregation to over 25 e-tailers like iTunes, Nokia comes with Music, eMusic, 7digital and others. Our clients draw on our vast experience and benefit from the company’s network to increase their comfort level when taking the next steps in their digital career. We function in a sense as their digital Sherpa. How do you describe the service to folk in a sentence or two? Grapewire provides the tools to power the marketing, promotion, presentation and distribution of art to an artist’s own website, other digital retail outlets and recently through popular social websites like Facebook. What are the company's main strengths in today’s music market? A clear vision of where things are heading and an understanding of how today’s creative processes are best complimented with technology, common sense and a bit of punk ideology. Our strong focus on market analysis and belief in applying data to catch trends and help with career changing decisions. What are the benefits to artists who sign up with you? Artists who decide to use Grapewire to power their sales efforts will have fun, monetize their creation and get to share our vision. What do you see as the biggest problems facing the music business today? The biggest problems by far are all those generalizations being made about the problems of the music industry. This is a large industry built on a conveyer belt designed to move valuable physical products that have been the de-facto transport medium of music. The challenges are on all levels of the value chain with everybody asking the same question: “What value do I provide to the relationship between an artist and a fan?” While some only have to make minor adjustments to their business models, those struggling to come up with answers have to realize that they have come to an end of an era. Their role is redundant, is being taken over by technology or by people with a better understanding of how artists like to express themselves and how people prefer to consume music. Do you think Iceland in general is a good place to try out these kinds of business "experiments" or innovative models? Iceland has been used as a test market for diapers, washing detergent and shampoo by companies like Johnson&Johnson, Unilever and Kraft Foods. The small market is ideal to make mistakes and learn. Compared to other markets the cost of a national advertising campaign is almost nothing and with a high computer literacy rate and effective communications the results of an experiment roll in fast. I know for a fact that some major labels used the advantages of the Icelandic market in the early nineties to help select singles from albums. The responsive Icelandic market gave clear results in a couple of weeks which were used as decision support. Today, however, the territorial borders are blurred and at least for Grapewire the world is one market when it comes to the arts so an artist connects the same way to a fan in Iceland as he or she would in China or the Czech Republic. Given the fact that most of our projects are for artists catering to a global audience it is our global experience which help the most - except if they want to start selling their own diapers, washing detergent and shampoo. Then we will possibly conduct a small local trial first. Funnily enough we will soon add branded combs and hair styling gel to the lineup in the Gusgus supermarket we power. You're not limited to Iceland though, right? Grapewire is a global affair, music is made and enjoyed all over the world. What plans do you have for Grapewire in the near and far future? We constantly add to the toolset available to our clients to increase the ways they can communicate with their fan base, offer more flexible products and get a better understanding of the market. I’m sure world domination is on the horizon. Who else is involved in the company and what do you all do? We are a bunch of seasoned professionals with competence in all necessary areas and also rely on a global network of partners and consultants to be able to provide a tailor-made solution on a project-by-project basis. We feel this is the most effective approach given that the new business model is that there is no model and there are no bad ideas or wrong ways of doing things. With all the available options it is necessary to be able to apply the skills of a large, diverse group of people to each project to make sure there is no stone left unturned in the quest for the ideal approach to realizing one’s artistic vision with optimal revenue and minimal cost. What's your proudest Grapewire moment to date? All our moments are memorable. While we're here we have to ask what you're up to musically! Mayhem! Source: IMX
Seabear releases their new Album "We built a fire" next February or March 2010. A little preview with two songs from the album will be released as a 7" in December 2009. Sindri´s project Sin Fang Bous is on the road with múm in the United States. Seabear is on tour in Canada & USA in March 2010; in Europe in April 2010. Seabear @ MySpace
The friendly lady of Icelandair @ the desk @ Keflavik Airport allowed me to bring 36 kg instead of the 30 kg back home. Got a lot of free albums of my Icelandic friends. Takk fyrir musick. When I came home, the CD of The Men of the Year/Menn Ársins (Menn01)(2007) was waiting for me. Thx to Men of the Year! Here's an overview of my new treasures:
"Rokk og Reykur Vestfirzk naglasúpa sem hvergi er fáanleg annarsstaðar" (2003) – A gift of Ólafur Ragnarsson POPP himself
I Bought @ Keflavík Airport before leaving: Agent Fresco "Lightbulb Universe" (Kimi Records, 2008) Benny Crespo’s Gang Debut Album (COD006, Cod Music/Sena ) Æla "Súnið tillitsemi, ég er frávik" (Geimsteinn, 2005)
I bought @ 12 Tonar: The art box (CD & DVD) by Hellvar: "Hellvar ekki Helvar" (nr. 4 of 10) Read more about this project here Got the one and only UNUN t-shirt (exchanged it for one of this blog) Thx Jóhannes - what a joy! The History of Unun (@ Unun Website)
1993 Dr Gunni and Thor Eldon get together to form a band. Name Unun (meaning "Pleasure") is found while playing Scrabble. First singer Kristin joins. The threesome practise at Dr Gunni's flat on a 4-track.
1994 Studio sessions for first Unun album start on the 1st of April. Band records a song with rock veteran Runar Jul which becomes a summer hit. While recording it becomes clear Kristin is not good enough. Panic sets in but Heida comes to save the day. First album - ae - is finished with Heida singing. Ae comes out in the beginning of Dec. and Unun plays some promotion gigs with Dr Gunni on bass, Thor on guitar, Heida on voc and guitar, Obo on drums and Johann Johannsson on keyboards. Johann co-produced ae and is later to become part of Lhooq.
1995 Ae is voted best album of 1994 in Iceland. Having a surprise hit Unun plays a lot gaining large audience in Reykjavik and outside. In the spring the band starts to translate the Icelandic lyrics into English. The results come out as Super shiny dreams on Bad Taste in USA and Europe. Sales are slim. In the summer Unun record two cover songs with Paul Oscar = big summer hits. In the fall Unun plays in Danmark, France and Switzerland. Now Matthias Hemstock (drums) and Valgeir Sigurdsson (keyboards) have join the band.
1996 Unun supports Bjork on 3 dates in England. Interest is high for Unun in foreign courters. Lots of nice record company people take Unun out for dinner and Unun plays for good people in Iceland and abroad. Still no recording deal but Unun signs publishing deal with Polygram. Unun plays Eurospotting festival in Danmark.
1997 Unun plays at the Roskilde festival in Danmark. Deceptive signs Unun and releases two singles. So-so reviews. In native Iceland Dr. Gunni releases children album "Abba babb!" and "The Farting People" becomes a big hit.
1998 Deceptive drops Unun. Unun is like a very tired horse waiting to be slaughtered but still manages to put out "Bones", a 4 track leftover ep. Finally Dr. Gunni and Heida say; "Enough of this, let's have some action", and go into the studio to make "Otta", the 2nd album. All other members quit but three new members join; Birna on keyboards, Viddi on bass and Doddi on drums. The new Unun plays in Iceland.
1999 In March Unun makes a wonderful and successful tour to Oslo, Latvia, Estonia and Finland.
I got @ Valdi’s Shop: Ampop "My delusions" (DCD026, Dennis/Sena, 2005) Ampop "Made for market" (DCD028, Dennis/Sena, 2006) Leaves "We are shadows" (BAK001, 2009) Slugs Debut Album (Smekkleysa, 2008) Vonbrigði "Tapir" (Von002)
Found Second Hand: Cynic Guru "Iceland" (SCD326, Sena, 2005) Some vinyl stuff on Gramm (Bubbi) & The Outsiders @ Kolaportið
In the Icelandair plane: "Icelandic folktales – Elves, Trolls and Mythic Creatures" (Heyr Heyr, 2008)
I Bought @ Nordic House after their gig : Pascal Pinon (2009) Numbered EP (nr. 17)
@ IDA: Hafdís Huld "Synchronised Swimmers" (SCD434, Sena, 2009) Hinn íslenzki Þursaflokkur "Þursabit" (Sena, 2009) Hoffmann "Your secrets are safe with us" (Hoff01, 2009) Lady & Bird "La ballade of Lady & Bird – A project by Keren Ann Zeidel & Barði Jóhannsson" (Bang, 2009) múm "Sing along to songs you don’t know" (Morr Music // Euphono Records, 2009) Trúbrot "…Lifun" (Sena, 2009)
Gift of Iceland Airwaves Festival: Helgi Valur – The Shemales vs. The White Panthers Extended Play Showdown Ingi "Human Oddities" (Bastard Records, 2008) Sudden Weather Change "Stop! Handgrenade in the name of Crib Death ‘nderstand?" (Kimi Records, 2009) Weapons "A ditch in time" (Future Records, 2008) "Book Project: Iceland - Music/Art/Fashion" by Charlie Strand - Includes 1 CD
Gift of Heiða í Hellvar/Unun: Blindfold (Dennis/Sena, 2005) Fabúla "Dusk" Helgi Rafn "Personal Belongings" (FCD 026, Frost Music, 2006) "Jólalagasamkeppni Rásar 2 árið 2005" (2005) "Landslag Bulgjunnar 2001" (Skifan, 2001) "L’amour fou – Íslensku Lögun" "Minni Karla Skuggasveinar flytje lög Tony Joe White" (Sena, 2008) Ragnheiður Gröndal "Þjóðlög" (12Tónar, 2006)
Gift of Haukur of Reykjavík! & Grapevine Magazine editor: Sökudólgarnir "Líf & Fjör" (2008) Maus "Nánast ólöglegt" (2002) Vilhjálmur og Elly Vilhjálms Vilhjálmur og Elly Vilhjálmssystkinin syngja saman (Sena, 2006) A Reykjavik! Button
Gift of Balli of Kimi Records, soon based in Belgium (what a great news was that): Me, the slumbering Napoleon "The bloody core of it"
The 135. Song of the Week is by Ólafur Ragnarsson aka Óli Popp:"You and I". Got a CD "Rokk & Reykir" with this beautiful song as nr. 12 from Ellen T'Joen (left) one of his greatest fans.
Photograph in the seats @ The Volcano Show / Red Rock Cinema @ Hellusund by Wim Van Hooste.
A new Mugison(alias of Örn Elías Guðmundsson) album with old stuff in a new lopapeysu The record was recorded in January with a band containing Addi & Guðni of the band Dr. Spock, keyboard player Davíð Þór & guitarist Pétur Ben. Mugison's Website
The boys of Sprengjuhöllin go for it. Not changing your difficult Icelandic band name, but keep it. While performing @ Halifax, Canada, they learned their audience some Icelandic. Very good mates. Meet too many people who call themselves lovers of Icelandic music but can't pronounce their favorite artists like Björk, Sigur Rós, múm, etc. Maybe next time @ Airwaves an off-venue @ Nordic House with Toggi or Hafdis Huld?: How to pronounce Icelandic band names like a real Icelander. Let the Belgian Boys & Girls of StuBru in for free please. It's irritating to hear them say Sigur Rós. It's even a Flemish word: "roos", and not "ros" (Flemish: red hair). And the British journalists who still can't say Björk correctly. It's a sad world. Sigur Rós put an mp3 with the correct pronounciation on their website (posted in the past on this blog). www.youtube.com/v/uqSI-RU8LbY&hl&fmt=18
BACK IN MY BELGIAN OFFICE @ THE ILOVEICELANDIC MUSIC HEADQUARTERS
This is only about the artists that I witnessed myself. I tried to see some unknown bands, skipped my favorite artists to see some unique concerts. That's always the problem with a festival you know. A sad thing but unsuperable, unfortunately. Best gigs off-venue: Vicky goes acoustic @ Hemmi & Valdi
Jan Mayen @ Rock Bar Dillon Dýrðin @ Café Amsterdam Hraun @ Nordic House Pascal Pinon @ Nordic House Æla @ Karamba Oh Land @ Nordic House Best gigs on-venue: Captain Fufanu @ NASA Ghostigital @ Batteríið Bárujárn @ SódómaReykjavík Jeff Who? @ NASA Stereo Hypnosis @ Batteríið Sudden Weather Change @ NASA Úlpa @ Grand Rokk GusGus @ NASA Soundspell @ Batteríið Best Teenage artists: Captain Fufanu @ NASA Sykur @ B-5 Pascal Pinon @ Nordic House Best stand-up performance: Toggi @ Nordic House Best original: Toggi performing his (& Paul Oscar) own "Þú komst við hjartað í mér" Worst original: The Tiny, running down the hill Worst stand-up performance: The Tiny @ Batteríið ("Do you people get married in Iceland?") Too much talking by: Hafdis Huld @ Nordic House Kimono @ NASA Jónas Sigurðsson & Malbidid Svifur @ NASA The secret performance I missed: the truck of Dr. Spock - it stayed secret for me. The Blue Lagoon Hang-over Party, never went to the party & probably never will. Only for tourists, 'cause real Icelanders don't like the Blue Lagoon! Worst foreign artists: Juvelen @ Grand Rokk - The Tiny (both from Sweden) Best soundcheck: the noisy pop sound of The Megaphonic Thrift (Norway) @ Batteríið Best DJ: DJ Einar Sonic (of Singapore Sling & 12Tonar fame) @ Bakkus Best places to eat the menu: Karamba/Santa Maria & Grillhusið @ Tryggvagata Worst place to drink: Hemmi & Valdi, espec. when Canada Dry is standing behind the desk. Probably got an earbuzz & snowblindness after going to Hjaltalín the night before, when I showed him my Friends of Airwaves armband, but didn't get my discount like 2 times the 2 previous days before. If you treat longtime Friends of Iceland that way, I would hope it becomes a recordstore again soon @ Laugavegur... mon ami. Best gigs pré-Airwaves: Soundspell @ Oktoberfest Ensimi @ Oktoberfest Feldberg @ Grapevine Grand Rock @ Grand Rokk Jeff Who? @ Grapevine Grand Rock @ Grand Rokk Morðingjarnir @ Grapevine Grand Rock @ Grand Rokk (die hard punks - even sick on stage)
Artists not performing around (on/off schedule) Airwaves but MOST WANTED: Apparat Organ Quartet Ensimi Hellvar Jónsi& Alex/Parachutes Lady & Bird (new Album)/Bang Gang/Barði solo Sin Fang Bous Singapore Sling Worm is Green (new Album)
Captain Fufanu was even better than @ last Musical Experiments, early April 2009. In my humble opinion the 2 Einarssons were the best of all. But now they have growed up in less than 6 months, that's why this duo is the brightest hope for Icelandic music scene. The post-GusGus period has began. As is the post-krutt with the quartet Pascal Pinon. Video of Iceland Airwaves crew with first Berndsen, followed by Captain Fufanu www.youtube.com/v/JP38IxFIZlQ&hl&fmt=18
By far the weirdest gig was by Ghostigital (Einar Örn Benediktsson (a former member of KUKL, Purrkur Pillnikk & The Sugarcubes to name just 3 legendary Icelandic bands) & Curver Thoroddsen) together with Finnbogi Pétursson. But maybe Dr. Spock's truck was as weird, but although I was running a lot downtown 101, I didn't experienced a doctor-patient relationship myself. So maybe I missed the weirdest after all. Maybe I was just to much near Nordic House... or running up that hill. I would have liked to have seen Doctor Ottarr Proppé overshouting the Swedish Kate Bush copycat ;-). "A quiet afternoon" @ i-8 Gallery @ Klapparstigur Nr 3 @ Thursday 15. October @ 17:00 with Belgians inside & outside. You could hear the sound of silence three streets away btw for two hours. As far as I know, only 1 person was inside for the whole show: Finnbogi himself. www.youtube.com/v/RfOFTsJA_UE&hl&fmt=18
A Video from the movie Didda og Dauði kötturinn directed by Kristján Kristjánsson based on a book by Kristlaug María Sigurðardóttir. Released in 2003. It was recorded @ Keflavík, by far the Rock Town of Iceland. Funny song about a dead cat, that I never found on digging the internet for interesting Icelandic music... but with a little help of friend Heiðu aka Heiða www.youtube.com/v/vFnSayXxjlM&hl&fmt=18
More Icelandic cats or should I say soungs about cats "Jólakötturinn" (The Christmas Cat) was released on LP "Hvít Er Borg Og Bær" in December 1987 www.youtube.com/v/p0ldo_k42TM&hl&fmt=18 The Lyrics You Know The Christmas Cat - That Cat Is Very Large We Dont Know Where He Came From Nor Where He Has Gone
He Opened His Eyes Widely Glowing Both Of Them It Was Not For Cowards To Look Into Them
His Hair Sharp As Needles His Back Was High And Bulgy And Claws On His Hairy Paw Were Not A Pretty Sight
Therefore The Women Competed To Rock And Sow And Spin And Knitted Colorful Clothes Or One Little Sock
For The Cat Could Not Come And Get The Little Children They Had To Get New Clothes From The Grown Ups
When Christmas Eve Was Lighted And The Cat Looked Inside The Children Stood Straight And Red-Cheeked With Their Presents
He Waved His Strong Tail He Jumped, Scratched And Blew And Was Either In The Valley Or Out On The Headland
He Walked About, Hungry And Mean In Hurtfully Cold Christmas Snow And Kindled The Hearts With Fear In Every Town
If Outside One Heard A Weak "Meaow" Unluck Was Sure To Happen All Knew He Hunted Men And Didnt Want Mice
He Followed The Poorer People Who Didnt Get Any New Clothing Near Christmas - And Tried And Lived In Poorest Conditions
From them he took at the same time all their christmas food and ate them also themselves if he could
Therefore the women competed to rock and sow and spin and knitted colorful clothes or one little sock
Some had gotten an apron and some had got a new shoe or anything that was needful but that was enough
For pussy should not eat no-one who got some new piece of clothes She hissed with her ugly voice and ran away
If she still exists I dont know but for nothing would be his trip if everybody would get next christmas some new rag
You may want to keep it in mind to help if there is need for somewhere there might be children who get nothing at all
A Song by Dr. Gunni & His Friends/Vinir Hans is called "Ó kisa mín"(Ó my cat). This song was featured on the original "Abbababb!" Album (Smekkleysa, SM76CD) with again Heiða on vocals. She definitely loves cats, although she sometimes dares to sit on a cat while putting a signature on an album.... The (nearly) dead cat! Lucky cats have 7 lifes in Iceland too.
Julia Staples: Sorry that I didn't make it to your exhibition. Thanks for bringing the R! & more goodies & hope to see the results of our hopefully funny collaboration @ The Volcano Show & Hotel Holt.
HEIMA Back home in Belgium with 36 kg of stuff, some dirty stuff, but most of it is music related of course. Lots of free stuff this time, but without a doubt I supported the local economy while having UNUN (fun/joy). The only Cash they have in Iceland right now, is the good old Johnny Cash @ Sodoma Reykjavik: he waves you goodbye while leaving the place where once was Iceland's most notorious bar. Oh yes, and where you still had the possibility to experience the most funny (in a sad way) toilet downtown. I've seen up to 15 gigs a day during a stay of 12 nights in the most northly capital in the world. Experienced the most heavy storm in 17 years on my way to Gogoyoko/Grapevine night @ Grand Rokk with Mr. Fogg (UK), Mordingjarnir, Feldberg & Jeff Who? Only a few good people where there, competing with to tributes: 1 with Yoko Ono @ John Lennon Tribute & an Alice in Chains Tribute. The night before had a good boost with 9 bands on stage in an unheated Oktoberfest @ University ground, nearby my Hotel Saga. A lot of good memories who will last 4ever: catch you later with my latest catch of magazines, articles, own videos (more than 30 GB) & lots of my photographs & impressions of a country in Kreppa but not a crappy nation, but since April 2009 you can even "listen" to the Krona (feat. Biggi Maus). Maybe I'll tell you later about another way of paying: exchanging stuff...
I'm to tired to post a lot right now, but to keep you busy while I'm recovering of my 5. Edition Iceland Airwaves Festival in a row, enjoy the excellent blog by Professor Batty. He is a longtime follower of my blog but now I met him in real life for the first time in Nordic House, one of the best off-venues this year. A lot of times he was on the right place @ the right time for some historical moments... musical & non-musical, with & without my help.
134. Song of the Week is Hellvar's "Falsetto". The band Hellvar is the second artist with for the Second time a Song of the Week. Hafdis was the first 1 last week. "Falsetto" Live @ Tunglid venue @ Airwaves '08 www.youtube.com/v/_C1Jj4BATE8&hl&fmt=18
This month sees the 13th I loveIcelandic music contribution to an international initiative, the Music Alliance Pact, aka MAP. I take part in this Blog Alliance since the start 1 year ago in October 2008. On a monthly basis music bloggers from around the globe select a track from their country which is then posted collectively and simultaneously on those blogs - giving each nation's track international exposure. This month I contributed "Synthia", a song of the band FM Belfast for Iceland.
The band FM Belfast was formed late 2005 by Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson (aka Árni Plúseinn) and Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir. For the Iceland Airwaves festival 2006 the band expanded into a live act with up to 8 (or even more) members. Core of the band is now a quartet with ÁrniVilhjálmsson (of the band Motherfuckers in the house) and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason (of the band múm). This MAP Song "Synthia" is on their debut album "How to make friends", released on the band’s own record label World Champion Records last year. Website of FM Belfast
ARGENTINA: Zonaindie Lipgloss – Land Of Lords This band from Buenos Aires released their first EP a couple of months ago and Land Of Lords is our favorite song from it. Lipgloss sound like they’ve been listening to British rock all their life and you sure can feel the influence of bands like The Stone Roses at the end of the song, with the psychedelic guitars and all. If you like it, you can download the entire EP directly from this link.
AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They? Cloud Control – Gold Canary New music from the Blue Mountains! Only it sounds kinda like it originates from somewhere deep in America. Cloud Control always had an earthy, pastoral quality to their music but it sounds all the more temporally appropriate post-Fleet Foxes. Less jangle and more twang. Gold Canary is pulled from their debut album expected early 2010. It has some rootsy backing vocals and yelping, tambourine/handclap percussion, references to family members in the lyrics and then… a synth solo. This song is rad.
BRAZIL: Meio Desligado Constantina – Sobe Ladeira There is something special about Constantina that goes beyond their music. The absence of vocals never leaves you with a feeling of emptiness. It’s just the opposite. The instrumental songs are so deep and strong that lyrics would limit them to what we can express with words.
CANADA: I(Heart)Music The Balconies – Serious Bedtime It’s almost mind-boggling how good and how talented The Balconies are. They have two incredible lead singers (in brother and sister Jacquie and Steve Neville), both of whom are also astoundingly good songwriters, and they’re backed by one of the steadiest drummers I’ve ever seen. They’ve barely been around for more than a year but they’re generating a whole lot of buzz (their debut has just been released and it’s already charting nationally). Songs like Serious Bedtime make it easy to see why.
CHILE: Super 45 Tonossepia – Happy Habibi Te Vez Mas Feliz Tonossepia (Diego Vergara) is one of the most advanced musicians in the Chilean electronic scene. Constantly evolving in his way of creating music, this year he released his fourth album, Happy Habibi, an effort full of organic textures, warm harmonies and rhythmical variations. By mixing, almost to perfection, IDM and hip hop, Tonossepia has a lot of robot style and rap style.
CHINA: Wooozy Silkfloss – Mon Amour Mylène Chan (Muxitu) and Quan Du formed Silkfloss at the start of this year in Beijing. They are electronica, they are trip-hop, they are everything that brings you softness and fills you with love. Mylène also collaborates with many local electronic producers as a vocalist.
COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana Jiggy Drama – Contra La Pared Direct from San Andres Island, Heartan Lever – better known in the artistic scene as Jiggy D – comes loaded with cool rhymes and party beats. Jiggy mixes Antillean dancehall with old-school hip hop and Contra La Pared proves that when something is good, it doesn’t have to be forced. The combination of typical Colombian sounds (papayera in this case) makes him the perfect choice to represent the nation in MAP. Jiggy is currently working on his new album, Nerdside.
DENMARK: All Scandinavian Sebastian Lind – Stay A pop natural and excellent singer, 20-year-old Sebastian Lind excites with an enticing mix of singer-songwriter acoustics and crackling electronica. He has just released his first single Stop These Feet, but here’s Stay – a strong contender when it comes time to select a second.
ENGLAND: The Daily Growl The Voluntary Butler Scheme – The Eiffel Tower And The BT Tower This month’s song comes from the English Midlands courtesy of awesome one-man-band Rob Jones aka The Voluntary Butler Scheme. He’s a little scruffy around the edges but he serves up a tasty dish of pure pop. Although probably best experienced live, his debut album At Breakfast, Dinner, Tea (how old-school English is that title?) is full of sprightly tunes, huge hooks and amusing lyrics and is well worth checking out.
ESTONIA: Popop I’ll Hit Her – Noise In Your Mind There’s not much info about Estonian electro-poppers I’ll Hit Her and Googling that name will probably get you some quite disturbing results. Listing Aqua, 2 Unlimited and Joy Division as influences on their MySpace page, that’s really as diverse as you can get.
FINLAND: Glue The Capital Beat – Feel The Reggae This is not the kind of song you would expect to hear from a Finnish band, but The Capital Beat phenomenally recreate the warm sounds of Jamaica on their first album, A Greater Fire. This eight-piece combo takes Jamaican music to a new latitude and there is only one condition – feel the reggae and do the ska.
FRANCE: ZikNation Pascal Comelade – Two Maniaco Depressive Beatnicks Squabbling Over A Jane Russell Mozarella’s Stereokini Pascal Comelade is a really special musician. He mixes common instruments with some toys he found in a flea market. This way of working gives his music a unique tone and makes the listener feel the soul of his work. In some ways, his music reminds us of Yann Tiersen – nice piano, accordion and a lot of percussion. Two Maniaco…, with its happy leading saxophone and ringing xylophone, is a track dedicated to a happy life, which makes it a must-hear before beginning a day at work.
GERMANY: Blogpartei Rhytm Police – Ghosttrain Rhytm Police sound like they live in a metropolis as they reduce music to a strong bass line, synth sounds and sometimes quite snatchy vocals. However, they come from the rather rural Augsburg in western Bavaria. The only way to figure this out is by listening to their songs with German lyrics. But the featured song Ghosttrain shows their international attitude.
GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda Coin – Error 687 Coin draw their influences from the Manchester scene of the 80s and American grunge of the 90s. In their third studio album they shift their best qualities into different, equally dazzling guitar-pop shapes, sounding unclenched, enchanting and energetic. Popstitute is a beautifully balanced album filled with tremendously rich highs, unfailingly tuneful music, jagged guitars, drums and bass, which supply the rhythmic pulse and captivating hooks.
ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music FM Belfast – Synthia FM Belfast was formed in late 2005 by Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson (aka Árni Plúseinn) and Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir. For the Iceland Airwaves festival in 2006, the band expanded into a live act with up to eight (or even more) members. The core of the band is now a quartet with Árni Vilhjálmsson (of Motherfuckers In The House) and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason (of Múm). Synthia is taken from their debut album, How To Make Friends, released on the band’s own World Champion Records label last year.
INDIA: Indiecision Teddy Boy Kill – Tonic New Delhi’s Teddy Boy Kill represent the new Indian electronica soundscape – instantly international, slick and unrestrained by the need to reflect any inherent Indian-ness. This unsigned act from the country’s capital released their debut album, The Exit Plan, as a free download. Tonic is one of the highlights of the record – an immediately catchy dancefloor anthem that’s as temperate as it is energetic. Get ready to do something stupid.
INDONESIA: Deathrockstar The Super Insurgent Group Of Intemperance Talent – Money Making The Super Insurgent Group Of Intemperance Talent are the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in Indonesia. Their straight-to-the-point songs, killer hooks and good attitude has already seen them play some big venues and sell out concerts, which is very rare in Indonesia.
IRELAND: Nialler9 Trophy Boyfriend – Black Ship Despite the silly moniker, Gregor Ruigrok aka Trophy Boyfriend still managed to impress us with his first self-titled EP. He’s still at the embyronic stages having not played live or formally released anything in Ireland yet, but judging by the electro-indie of Black Ship, we certainly hope he gets out there soon.
ITALY: Polaroid Damien* – Confidants Play this song and fly back in time, to around the first half of the 90s, when Britpop was full of hope and strength. Well, this is just how Damien* are today. This young and promising band from Pesaro, on the Italian east coast, is able to mix a post-punk background with a more pop attitude. The incredibly catchy Confidants is taken from their second album, out this week on Suiteside.
JAPAN: JPOP Lover Henrytennis – Valencia Raincoats Another progressive band in the Tokyo music scene, Henrytennis feature instrumental dynamism influenced by post-rock, IDM, jam and progressive rock. Their members come from such outstanding Japanese bands as 4 Bonjour’s Parties, Hula Hooper, Kuruucrew, Oceanlane and Shugo Tokumaru. Their excellent second album R.U.R. is released on November 11.
MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa Radaid – Shine Shine is the opening track of L’Intent, the most recent record by Radaid. Hailing from Guadalajara, Jalisco, the eight talented musicians produce a peculiar mix of pop and original rhythms. That is why traces of Indian influences echo in Shine, while the vocals are by Sofía Orozco, who not only wrote the English lyrics but also invented the dialect which has nods to the phrasing of Hindu MCs.
NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat O’Lovely – A Different Day O’Lovely are from Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island and they have a glistening, ringing guitar sound on this song that reminds me of some great bands from that city’s past such as Bailterspace and Loves Ugly Children. The band has morphed from the more poppy The O’Lovelys with singer and keyboardist Laura Lee remaining at the centre of the band. She’s joined by Perry Mahoney of Bang Bang Eche, whose guitar gives a darker, noisier feel than the earlier band. A Different Day comes from the five-track Lost Luck EP.
NORWAY: Eardrums Firefly Effect – Never By Your Side Oslo quartet Firefly Effect recently released their brilliant debut album, Everything Is Beautiful And You Are The Reason, on Perfect Pop Records/Solerød Records. It is full of charming indie-pop songs with organs, boy/girl harmonies and jangly guitars. They call their style “retro-futuristic sunshine pop” which is a definition of their sound I can agree on. Perfect pop!
PERU: SoTB Emergency Blanket – Next Passenger The music of Emergency Blanket is fully charged with life and energy, taking influences from rock classics from the 60s, 70s and 90s to achieve a vintage yet fresh and original sound. Emergency Blanket recently released their debut album, Combi + Nation, which includes songs in Spanish, English and even a combination of both languages. Next Passenger has taken them to the final of The People’s Music Awards and you can vote for the band here.
PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco? Real Combo Lisbonense – Oh! Real Combo Lisbonense (Lisbon Real Combo) play music that takes us back to a time when everyone would dress up to dance to the sounds of an orchestra or a small ensemble. RCL is the band you would expect to hear in the casino lounge of an Ian Fleming novel. They remade some Portuguese and international popular classics of 50s and 60s and have become one of the pleasant surprises in the Portuguese indie scene this year. Shall we dance?
ROMANIA: Babylon Noise Vive La Noiz – Bird Song Vive la Noiz could be seen as the usual alternative/indie band. Two girls and two boys starting a band in the finest DIY ethic. However, their eclectic influences and pure, melodic sound label them as post-everything because you can find anything there, genre-free. Dark Clouds And Silver Linings is regarded as one of this year’s most interesting EPs.
SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop Meursault – A Small Stretch Of Land Edinburgh six-piece Meursault’s otherworldly, experimental folk seems almost tailor-made for the music blogging cognoscenti. But as A Small Stretch Of Land shows, Meursault (pronounced “mer-so”) also know when less is more, stripping the song to just acoustic guitar and vocal with crushingly beautiful effect. It’s no surprise Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison described A Small Stretch Of Land as “one of my favourite songs of last year, or indeed any year”. You can buy Meursault’s album, Pissing On Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues, and other releases here.
SINGAPORE: I’m Waking Up To… Inch Chua – Devotion In Reality Like the wet leaves after a thunderstorm, Devotions In Reality bring a melancholic hope to past hurts, as the first step after grief into a new light. Inch Chua is more well known in Singapore as the little dynamo of a frontwoman with rock stalwarts Allura. Taking time off to record her solo EP, she brings to the forefront another facet of her versatility, especially on this number that is best described as a cross between Lisa Ekdahl and Stars.
SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker! Ameen Harron – Techicoloured Oblivion Ameen Harron is a force to be reckoned with in the South African music scene. He is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, and one of the country’s up-and-coming producers, who has worked with a range of the best local musicians, garnering national and international attention. Technicoloured Oblivion shows not only his skills as a producer but as an artist. He has strong ties to hip hop, which is evident as his combination of hip hop, punk and electro creates his own distinctive sound. The song has an almost soulful feel to it and wouldn’t be out of place on the international charts. Ameen Harron is set to take over. Watch out.
SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK Julia Hart – Korean Girl’s Winter Always delightful guitar-pop act Julia Hart decided it had been too many years since the release of their last album in 2007 and consequently released a digital single with a couple of new songs for people to hear last month. One of them, Korean Girl’s Winter, shows Julia Hart at their loveliest and is a perfect indie-pop piece well suited for repeated play hours on end.
SWEDEN: Swedesplease Leaving Mornington Crescent – Seventeen From the sound of Seventeen, Leaving Mornington Crescent have ventured into new territory. Unlike the sunny 60s-inspired indie-pop of April Song from their Cloudberry split CD, Seventeen is a rather heavy, shoegaze number with buzzing and churning guitars and a solid backbeat. Still the vocals retain the cheeriness of April Song with a chorus of “I’m seventeen on the inside, the only difference is…”.
TURKEY: Reset! Kim Ki O – Serbest Kalp Dusmesi Kim Ki O’s songs are self-written, self-played and self-sung in the name of self-pleasure and self-impulsion. Kim Ki O, which is the Turkish expression for “who is that anyway?”, is a name chosen for its phonetic beauty. The duo like to play with synthesizers and drum machines but do not to use computers in their music, preferring to create all the action live with enthusiasm and tension. The two members of the gang are former high school buddies who had been out of touch for years. Now they are back, clasped together, making great things.
UNITED STATES: I Guess I’m Floating That Ghost – The Red Bow That Ghost is the musical moniker of one crazy kid from the coast of California. Ryan Schmale, a youthful 19-year-old, creates lo-fi pop that evokes the warmth of bedroom recordings. He has a new EP on the way titled Get It And Get Out that IGIF will certainly be writing more about in the near future.
VENEZUELA: Deaf Indie Elephants Ulises Hadjis – Lunes The warm voice of Ulises Hadjis and his guitar are suddenly interrupted by a theremin, a trumpet from a gypsy story and a dialogue between Star Trek’s Captain Kirk and Zulu. These are some of the big surprises you’ll find in his debut album, Presente, which without doubt was one of the best debuts of 2008. His original indie-pop contains lyrics as melancholic as Bon Iver’s or Elliott Smith’s and a musical diversity that in its best moments resembles Beirut or Neutral Milk Hotel. On a Sunday morning this album will be your best company.
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