I know I know, I’m late for this one. I’m currently moving so life has been insane lately, but I failed to update the Airwaves page as well as say that they now have added 25 more bands, 20 of which appear to be Icelandic. I’ve really got my work cut out for me as I plan creating an aggregate source for each and every Icelandic band doing Airwaves this year. Hopefully I get moved in quick enough to even attempt to get caught up.
So which Icelandic bands have been added?
Ólafur Arnalds, Sólstafir, Prins Póló, RetRoBot, The Vintage Caravan, Borko, Kontinuum, Samaris, Ophidian, I, Himnalaya Angist, Low Roar, Nolo, UMTBS, Lord Pusswhip, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Blood Feud, and Magnoose.
Non Icelandic bands include Yo La Tango, El Rojo Adios, TAPE, Carmen Villain, Moon King, and the Jacob Juhkam Bänd.
As always, you can enter your email and follow my blog, and of course if Airwaves is something you’re even thinking of doing, you should go to the Iceland Airwaves website and subscribe to their mailing list. It’s non-intrusive, but will let you know right off what’s going on.
I will update my Airwaves page with the Icelandic Artists websites/Facebook/Gogoyoko profiles later this week, but until then, here is their Spotify and Soundcloud playlist, which you can always find on my Iceland Airwaves 2013 post.
Three gals, two guys, that’s MAMMÚT. An Icelandic 5 piece that’s been on the scene for around 9 years. They have crafted the art of delivering a wall of sound both live and on record with Kata, the lead singer sending out vocals akin to an offspring of Grace Slick and Linda Perry. Kata on vocals, Ása strumming bass, Alexandra and Arnar at guitar, and Andri banging the drums and percussion.
3 or 4 months after forming, they won the coveted Músiktilraunir, the annual Icelandic battle of the bands. Two years later their first album, Mammút, was released. Basic rock in the vein of the Breeders or Linda Perry topped with a dash or three of late 60’s psychedelic rock. There are times I can play Miðnæturmetalltwo or three times before moving on to the next track.
The second album, Karkari, has a darker feel. It’s still rock heavy, such as the terrific bass thumping on the beginning of Geimþrá, and the album ends with an instrumentally heavy track, Í Leyni, which could easily be confused for a Godspeed You Black Emperor or Mogwai song. Very heavy, very loud, and oh so awesome on a stereo.
Between the two albums and their new track, MAMMÚT did Bakkus with KEXP:
I love that the video captures Kata’s “I’m almost going to explode, but I’ll do it very quietly” way of singing, she really is awesome to see live, and the only thing I miss from this and their records is just what powerful lungs she actually has, that fire haired girl really knows how to sing. But then again, watching this band live really restores your faith in music, as even when it’s a simple riff, or slow drum line, these guys are always into it. It’s a live gig you should make a priority to see, you’ll get into it just from the energy they give off because their into it.
I want to go off-topic for a moment and bring up KEXP, the folks who did the Bakkus video. The crew that covers Iceland Airwaves from KEXP are an incredible sort. I always end up running into them once or twice during the festival as they are incredibly hard workers. Typically out late to catch as many shows as they can, only to wake up extremely early to go here and there recording Icelandic musicians for special performances all during Airwaves. A lot of material you will find on Airwaves comes from the recordings and sessions of KEXP. Last year they were headquartered at the hostel Kex, recording off-venue gigs, broadcasting their live shows, and generally having a good time.
MAMMÚT have been teasing us about new material for quite some time now, and it looks as if it’s finally going to happen. On the new single, Salt,we get those haunting vocals, and a much darker, more prominent base line. It feels a lot more like Í Leyni than their other catalog and so yes, I’m quite excited for the new album. Also, it will be in English and Icelandic, so you won’t have to go guessing just exactly what the hell they are saying, if you’re not versed in the Icelandic language.
The band was kind enough to take the time to answer my 4 vital questions, so here they are:
1. What is your favorite off-venue Airwaves, or Icelandic joint to jam at? A few year ago we played a gig in Ása’s (our bassist) basement. She used to live in a huge house in downtown Reykjavík and turned the basement into an art gallery, and there we played a secret show for a few good people.
2. If you combine all of your favorite colors (for you, add your bandmates if you would), what do you get? It would be a crazy new color. We’d probably call it “Mammút blue”
3. What are 3 of your favorite little known bands of Icelandic origin? Well we’d have to define “little known” first. If we’re talking about bands who haven’t experienced a huge international success (yet) then we’d have to say Samaris, Agent Fresco and Ojba Rasta.
4. If you could be any creature playing your favorite song, what would the creature be? And what is the song. Most likely we’d like to be a frog singing Ave Maria.
You can keep up, and find out more about MAMMÚT on their Facebook and Tumblr pages. And of course their two albums and new single are conveniently located on Gogoyoko.
The lovely Lay Low, who features in Iceland Defrosted, is performing a live concert from her home in Iceland on Saturday May 4th, and this can be seen on the Inspired by Iceland website. I will definately be tuning in.
Monks done got dark, that’s the first thing that came to mind on my virgin listen to AMFJ. With dark, heavy and industrial instrumentals topped with AMFJ blasting over the top with aggressive high energy rants, creating powerfully violent noise rock.
AMFJ is one man, Aðalsteinn Jörundsson, and his project began in 2008. Just him, some loops and a lot of feedback smothered with powerful and aggressive vocals that bounce and shock the beats, akin to a defibrillator being applied one’s heart. He has an ability to take the mundane and turn it into something darkly evocative.
For me, AMFJ’s newest album, Bæn, really encompasses his back catalog well. There are definitely different and new sounds involved, but you get an overall feel for where he’s going and what he’s doing with the tracks. It’s heavy, and the industrial/rock feel reminds me of post 80’s Ministry. One of my favorite tracks is Klasar:
Other tracks such as Eg er Guð, to me, sounds akin to benedictine monks waking up on the wrong side of the wooden floor.
Gigs with AMFJ contain a lot of strobes, with a man front and center usually in a tank top blasting into a mic while twisting and toggling nobs and widgets creating dark loops and echoes. From what I’ve read, sets tend to be intense and just under and hour.
Another great thing about AMFJ, he’s a fair play artist at Gogoyoko. Meaning he’s allowed Gogoyoko to donate 10% or more of his album sales to the 5 charities Gogoyoko supports. So I highly suggest listening and purchasing his stuff from them.
AMFJ will be playing Iceland Airwaves and I highly suggest you check him out. You can find him on Gogoyoko and Facebook, he was kind enough to answer my 4 questions and here are his answers:
1. What is your favorite off-venue Airwaves, or Icelandic joint to jam at? 1. My favorite off venue to play at would be Mjódd. It’s a bus station way up in Breiðholt. I played there last year and it was so refreshing to play for people who would have otherwise never heard of you. Everyday normal commuters on their way home. Bleakly standing around, exhausted after a long week at the grind. Seemingly not caring for the music very much but stayed inside the station anyway, probably because of the storm outside. Then one guy came up to me after the set, said he loved it and bought my cd and gave me beer can from the bag of multible sixpacks he was bringing home to drown his sorrows in. Said he was going to give it a good listen when he’d get home. I’m was very glad to provide the soundtrack for his miserable evening.
2. If you combine all of your favorite colors (for you, add your bandmates if you would), what do you get? I like primary colours. Colours that make other colours, but can also just stand on their own and be them selves. I don’t have any idea how to blend them and I don’t understand how people can come up with weird colour names such as razzmatazz. I think that’s just people desperately trying to make their lives more interesting but are looking in the wrong places. I like red. if I mix other colors into it, it would probably be a different kind of red. But still red.
3. What are 3 of your favorite little known bands of Icelandic origin? Jóhann Eiríksson an electronic musician who’s been around experimenting with noises and field recordings since the late 80’s. He’s behind acts such as Reptilicus and Gjöll and is probably the most underrated artist of our country. I have never met anyone who has such deep understanding of how sound works and what can be done with it.
Norn a black-metal crust band that have been kicking ass lately. They bring a healthy joyful attitude to a genre that isn’t known for having much sense of humor about them selves. They are working on an album these days and Krakkkbot, another great electronic musician you should know about – is dubbing over it some bone crushing noises to crust things up even further.
Logn Young guys who play fast and furious. Extremely refreshing fury in the midst of all the market friendly cuteness that plagues the scene these days.
4. If you could be any creature playing your favorite song, what would the creature be? And what is the song. A Sloth, playing Last Dream of Jesus by Haus Arafna
I plan on reviewing and aggregating information on all the Icelandic bands that will be playing Airwaves 2013. Just click one of the bands below and you will go to the post. If I have not completed a post on the band, clicking on the link will lead you to their Gogoyoko profile, their webpage, a soundcloud page, or their Facebook page. You can also click here and listen to my playlist, which will have all artists on Gogoyoko.com that are playing the festival. Membership to Gogoyoko is free, and you can stream all the music absolutely free. Also, if you do choose to buy, the artist gets 90% of the sale, that is why I love to use them.
To find an up-to-date list of all the bands playing Airwaves 2013 click here.
Iceland Airwaves has become my favorite music festival. 4 days of music on a small Island straddling two continents. It began in 1999 at an airport hangar, and has now become a web of pubs, concert halls, discotheques and coffee shops sprawled out over the city of Reykjavik. Unlike most festivals, where you have stages competing for sound. Airwaves utilizes multiple venues, granting you the ability to actually see the band you’re listening to in person, not just on a massive screen. During the day you get to see acts play smaller gigs around town in Hostels, coffee bars, bookstores. And last year there was even a small little shack in the town center for a cozy kind of experience. After the festival there are plenty of after parties where bands continue until 6-7 in the morning. It truly is, 4 days of non-stop music.
You can always check the website for more information, and book all-inclusive festival packages here. They also have a playlist on Soundcloud of all the artists, not just the Icelandic ones.
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and here is their Spotify playlist:
Take a coupla shots of Reyka and go here. I’ll see you there, I’ll be the one with the triple vodka tonic listening away.
Apparat Organ Quartet, AOQ, began in 1999 and has, or does now, consist of Hörður Bragason, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Músikvatur, Úlfur Eldjárn and Þorvaldur Gröndal who was later replaced by HAM drummer Arnar Geir Ómarsson. As of 2012, Jóhann Jóhannsson left AOQ to focus on his other projects.
Trying to regurgitate their entire history from Wiki, or their website would be a disservice, as their website is extremely entertaining so I’ll leave that to you; and just go on about their albums and live gigs. AOQ is always an interesting band to see live. They pride themselves on not sequencing the music, and their instruments are a hodge-podge of keyboards, organs, vocoders, and synthesizers, all tweaked and modified to bring the audience and listener unique beat-heavy dance and rock pieces.
My first live experience with AOQ was unplanned. I was at NASA early to ensure my sweet spot for a band I can’t even remember that was playing after them. The lights dimmed and the stage came alive with this massive bulk of machinery and wires cranking out these incredibly forceful soundwaves of synthesized vocals, organs tweaked improper, keyboards, and I swear to God there was a cow bell. The crowd, obviously familiar with them went nuts, jumping up and down, freaking out, and displaying the bands symbol, the triangle. Lift both hands above your head, put your thumbs together in a straight line, then touch your index fingers together, making the triangle. Obviously the show left it’s impression, as I remember AOQ, but not the band I was really there to see.
Their first album came out around 2002. The self titled album is built like an album should be, very easy to listen to and fluid. It starts off with a lot of energy, then you coast gleefully through the middle engaging the listener with ups and downs, coming to a very spacey, relaxing end. The album took almost 3 years of discovery and research for the band, and according to the band’s website, it took so long to create as it was undiscovered territory. Not many organ quartets are out there, add that to their naturally creative nature, and obsession with customizing old and new things alike, and you have a lot of untraveled space to fly through. My favorite tracks on the album are The Anguish of Space Time and Stereo rock and roll.
Their second full length, Pólýfónía, has the same upbeat vibe, and more pop-ish tracks such as 123 Forever as well as more rock-ish tracks like Cargo Frakt. At Airwaves 2012, instead of a bulk of instruments taking up the center of the stage, Apparat added 4 very new, very shiny instruments. A quartet of women:
They first appeared on the track Konami and then appeared live, for everyone to see. The concert this time was at Harpa, a much larger venue, which the band filled with an epic light show, as well as these lovely ladies. AOQ proved again that they know how to put on an amazing show.
I would definitely check out their website, they are on Facebook, and of course, their albums are all on Gogoyoko. Definitely unique, energetic, and worthwhile. And now, for their 4 questions:
1. What is your favorite off-venue Airwaves joint to jam at? I think we did our first Airwaves off venue gig this year at KEX and it was quite nice. They had delicious soup.
2. If you combine all of your favorite colors (for you, add your bandmates if you would), what do you get? A whiter shade of pale
3. What are 3 of your favorite little known bands of Icelandic origin? DJ Musician, DJ Sexbomb andDJ Flugvél og geimskip
4. If you could be any creature playing your favorite song, what would the creature be? A steam engine robot playing Jump by Van Halen
As it’s somewhat of a rarity to see Icelanders gracing our Boston stages and bars, I thought I would write a quick review of FM Belfast’s concert at Great Scott last night, Feb 28th 2013. The gig got off to a late start, and as people drifted in YDIMITU began their heavy beats hidden behind two massive strobing LED blocks set to retina destruction level. Next, the ever cheerful keys duo Child Actor took the stage and played to a still increasing dance floor crowd.
With slightly less than 200 people in attendance, FM Belfast came out to stage with full force AND Mexican party favors:
Instantly the floor of adults became partiers and the fun began. Dancing on an amazingly small stage for 5 people, only a foot up above the crowd, Árni, Lóa, and crew had the audience crouching low, jumping high, and bouncing around every which way ‘til Sunday. It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen an American adult audience be so alive and it was refreshing.
“Are you ready to jump!?” Shouts Árni just before the instruments kick in and a sound wave of music blasts over a very hyper audience. I’ve seen many shows at Great Scott, but never have I began wondering just how much more the floor could flex before it might give in.
I wish I had a setlist for you, but I didn’t think about writing a review until this morning, so I am unprepared. All the classics were hit as well as a good amount of stuff from the new album. And of course, the band did underwear, and lost their pants in the process. There was blending of songs, and improvised extensions to allow the audience to dance even longer. The only song not played I would have liked to have heard was Tropical.
But it truly was a fantastic show, made slightly cooler by the smaller, very excited crowd. You can check out my blog post on FM Belfast, which includes links to stream their albums as well as links to all their pages here. And you can catch FM Belfast live at the Studio at Webster Hall on March 3rd.
Well folks, the second batch O’bands has been announced for Iceland Airwaves 2013. Múm (pronounced Moom) will be there, as well as Sin Fang, pronounced Sinn Faiinnnng, Bloodgroup (pronounced giddy) and Metz (pronounced with a silent Q). To see the line-up so far click here.
And, if you’re in the Boston area, remember that FM Belfast is playing at Great Scott tomorrow, Feb 28th, at Great Scott in Allston. It’s $12 or so, and well worth it.
A birthday track made by a couple, for a friend, became the beginnings of a snowball gradually gaining speed and size, rolling it’s way through dance floors, festivals, and bar venues taking peoples’ pants in return for lively gigs that feel more like all encompassing parties; this, is the FM Belfast I’ve experienced.
This post was done out of my chaotic order as they are playing Great Scott in Allston (Boston) on Feb. 28th. I always get excited when an Icelandic band comes to Boston, but FM Belfast is famous for putting on amazing live shows anywhere they play. They have an incredible knack for feeding off the energy of a crowd, creating their own energy, and turning any environment into a party. I tried to find clips of live shows, but I honestly feel that you thumbing through this 47 minute set would probably give you a better idea of what to expect:
according to legend, and their website. A couple, Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson and Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir, put together a birthday song for a friend. As music things typically do, it got around and eventually more music was created by it. The band expanded, and now includes players from a slew of great Icelandic bands, such as Borko, Retro Stefson, Múm, and Benni Hemm Hemm. Depending on who’s available and what they are doing the roster can change from 3 to 11 players and that adaptability and keen sense for a good mood is what makes going to one of their gig’s absolutely worth it.
Before going into just how great the first time I saw them was, I feel there needs to be a little discography lesson and knowledge shared. They are witty and have no lack of catchy tunes. On How to make friends, there is a keyboard playing monkey named Pedro being Tropical, a warped drunken-like version of the classic Pump up the jam, motivational songs about being President, and of course, one of their most popular songs about being Icelandic and running down the street in their Underwear.The band actually put together a lo-fi video for the song Underwear, I have to admit it cracks me up:
The newest album, Don’t want to sleep, still carries on the dance beat, but the lyrics get more serious, but not too serious. You still have fantastic songs about learning American, and not wanting to go to sleep either. But you also get darker dance beats and more mature sounding tracks like In Line, and Happy winter. In line is actually my favorite track off of the album.
Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir was kind enough to answer my 4 questions:
1. What is your favorite off-venue Airwaves joint to jam at? My favorite off venue last year was KEX hostel.
2. If you combine all of the band’s favorite colors what do you get? To start with, one of our bandmate has the favorite colors Neon Green and Burgundy red so I think the combo will always turn out to be pretty diarrhetic. Mine is a gray purplish sort of blue, I have a pen with that color and it’s called Cornflower. One bandmate doesn’t know and I can’t be bothered to call the rest of the guys. But like I said, the end result will be brown.
4. If you could be any creatures playing your favorite song, what would you be, and what song? It would be a really big crow singing Smog’s song Feather by Feather.
You can learn more about them on their website. Gogoyoko actually has a lot of remixes, and their full length albums, so I would suggest going and giving them a listen. And of course they are on Facebook.
Sindri Már Sigfússon, Sin Fang, may very well deserve the hardest working musician award for last year’s Iceland Airwaves festival. I swear that man was playing everywhere I turned, on top of that, he was also seen exhibiting his artwork leaving me to believe he cloned himself to be at multiple places at once. Part of Seabear, Sin Fang originally solo’d as Sin Fang Bous before dropping the Bous and becoming Sin Fang.
In 2011, Sin Fang released the first album I was privy to hear. Summer Echos, Excellent production and unique vocals, combined with somber lyrics moved the listener along as if Sin Fang was directing the crowd through the fall into winter. One of the great singles from the album, Because of the Blood also has one of my favorite videos:
And while Summer Echos feels like he’s leading you into winter, the newest album, Flowers, begins with the lively anthem-ish Young boysleading you out of winter into spring. Young boys, with it’s Vibrant, upbeat, and stronger, more precise vocals, cues the listener for the energetic ride they are about to take. Young boys and Not enough are definitely recommended, but to me, the absolute solid treat on the album is Look at the light. The arrangement, vocals and overall feel of the song is just perfect for my current state of mind. Luckily for me, and you, he just released a video for it:
Flowers was produced by Alex Somers of Parachutes and Jónsi and Alex fame. And it’s apparent in the upbeat drumming and great vocal quality found in the album. It’s too early in the year, but honestly of all the new stuff I’ve been listening to, I keep coming back to Flowers for my commute, it is definitely in the running to be one of the best things of 2013.
Here be the four questions he was kind enough to answer:
1. What is your favorite off-venue Airwaves joint to jam at? My favorite off-venue was called havarí. a little music/art store downtown. it’s a hotel now.
2. If you combine all of your favorite colors (for you, add your bandmates if you would), what do you get? Brown?
3. What are 3 of your favorite little known bands of Icelandic origin? Boyfriends, Olympic boys and Munnfylli af galli. (Unfortunately I could not find links for these bands.)
4. If you could be any creature playing your favorite song, what would the creature be? And what is the song. A squirrel playing look at the light
You can Listen to and/or purchase a good amount of Sin Fang’s catalog on Gogoyoko, including the new album Flowers. he is also on Itunes, and Flowers is available for pre-order or purchase on Feb 5th.
Ragnaar's Icelandic Music Blog 