Ben H. Murray
Icelandic musicKimi Records summer tour finale – tracksuits rock
This week’s Kimi Records night at NASA in Reykjavik was a storming night of music that could only happen in Iceland. Nowhere else would they jam together Benni Hemm Hemm and Reykjavik!, bands as different as a shot of Opal and a pint of milk, on the same bill and get away with still producing a fitting finale to the label’s summer tour.
Borco were a revelation with their fantastic airy tunes and matching tracksuits (a look sported by the entire tour entourage) and three-piece punk/metal band Mordinjarnir were, as always, full of energy and humour, even though I couldn’t understand much. It’s a pity a few more people didn’t come.
Benni Hemm Hemm
Atomstation…in a car park: Sirkus lives.
Heavy, LA-style rock is big news in Iceland at the moment – bands like Sign and Tommygun Preachers are doing great things at home and abroad which bodes well for the future of Icelandic guitar music. It could be more inventive but who cares when they have the songs and talent to turn your mood from rainy-day blues to California-sunshine happy.
LA-style rock in the middle of the old Sirkus car park, however, is something rarer than ‘big news’ which made Atomstation’s impromptu performance last week a bit special. Their stage was a tent bought from Bonus and crowd was mainly made up of confused tourists (“Gene, why are there hairy men playing loud music in a car park? I thought Iceland was meant to be peaceful…anyway, can you see the Northern Lights yet?” ) and lots of old Sirkus regulars. Atomstation were brilliant and their album, Exile Republic, is one of my favourites so far this year – if it doesn’t win some sort of IMA recognition then it’ll be a surprise.
Even the lead singer had a Tom Selleck ‘tache in honour of the legendary Sirkus Tom Selleck Moustache Competition, but he may have just had it anyway. Nice fuzz though.
They have three live dates in the next few weeks so go see them for yourself.
Reykjavik Nights, London – Friday 16th May
One of Iceland’s most influential musicians, Valgeir Sigurdsson, will be playing in the suitably grand surroundings of St Barnabas in Soho on Friday 16th May. The concert is part of the popular Reykjavik Nights series and is in association with the Bedroom Community record label.
Valgeir has produced, or worked on, all of Bjork’s albums since 1998 which makes him the Icelandic equivalent of George Martin, except that Valgeir’s studio in Iceland is far nicer than the Beatles old basement hang out.
He will be showcasing his new solo album at the gig, which is by all accounts a pretty special piece of work and has attracted excellent reviews from esteemed organs such The Times (4/5). American folk singer Sam Amidon is also playing.
You can buy tickets here for £8 in advance: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/30907
And see here for more information: http://www.reykjaviknights.com/
Blindfold in London this week
Blindfold, Iceland’s prog answer to Radiohead, are playing in London on Wednesday 26th March at 93 Feet East and it promises to be an excellent evening of thoughtful rock music.
They played in Clapham, South London a few weeks ago and left everyone wanting to see some more so lets hope they play a lengthy set packed with some of their famous “long versions”.
Minus in London (and other parts of England) – this Thursday
Minus start their hectic UK tour this week with a headline gig at London’s Water Rats. See below for dates or click here for their myspace.
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Monto Water Rats | London | ||
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Leadmill | Sheffield | ||
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tbc | tbc | ||
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King Tuts | Glasgow | ||
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Academy 2 | Newcastle | ||
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Roadhouse | Manchester | ||
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Rock City | Nottingham | ||
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Barfly | London | ||
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Organ | Reykjavik | ||
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Live Station *Visions Party* | Dortmund | ||
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59:1 | Munich | ||
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Magnet | Berlin |
podcast – Minus in LA
Minus have been busy, really busy by the looks of it, and they’ve just released a video podcast covering the recording of their new album on the golden shores of California. Although this was recorded some months ago, it’s still pretty interesting to see the band in the studio and the new material, as far as I’m aware, has yet to make an official appearance in the UK.
If you click here (or below) when iTunes is open, it should automatically load the podcast.
http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewPodcast%253Fid%253D275215106
They’ve been recording with Joe Barresi who’s something of a legend in the US, having worked with Queens of the Stoneage and Tool, so the new material sounds like it might have a more “polished” side that was maybe lacking in some of their rougher releases. Tool’s 10,000 Days is one of my favourite albums from the past two years so if Joe Barresi has been guiding the band in the same way, it should be worth the wait and then some.
The podcast also covers the recording of the new version of Throwaway Angel, as highlighted in my previous post.
new Minus song online – acoustic version of Throwaway Angel
One of Iceland’s most credible metal bands, Minus (signed to One Little Indian in the UK), are releasing their long-awaited Great Northern Whalekill album on these shores soon and they’ve given Icelandic music mag Monitor a track for us all to enjoy before it appears as the B-side to their first UK single.
The song is an acoustic version of ‘Throwaway Angel’ and you can listen to it here or here
http://www.monitor.is/?i=10&expand=2-10&b=1,1739,news_bImageLinks.html
The lyric ‘exector of God’s wrath – sit next to me’ scares me a little but I know they’re into deep subjects as whaling, religion and Pantera, thus these interests are reflected in the nature of their excellent recordings.
You can read what The Reykjavik Grapevine thought of the album here.
I hear the band are also touring the UK soon…details to follow as soon as I have them.
Icelandic bands at ARCHrocks, South London
Four whole Icelandic bands playing in Clapham, South London on Thursday March 6th at a new band night. Free entry and with Hafdis Huld headlining, it should be an interesting night of different musical styles.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Blindfold play, the stuff on their myspace page is superb.
Venue:
www.arch635.co.uk
Hafdis Huld:
www.hafdishuld.com
www.myspace.com/hafdishuld
Blindfold:
www.myspace.com/theblindfold
Single Drop:
www.myspace.com/singledrop
Ingi Gislason:
www.myspace.com/ingiorngislason
by:Larm – FM Belfast, Benni Hemm Hemm & Bloodgroup
Loads of Icelandic bands playing at by:Larm (www.bylarm.no) in Norway this weekend including the excellent Benni Hemm Hemm, Bloodgroup (another band who played Reykjavik Nights in London last year) and one of my favourites, FM Belfast.
The latter are a trio who sound like this they didn’t make it to this decade. Their dress sense and excellent 80-90s electro is, however, making them extremely popular in Iceland and they even got a mention in the NME a few months ago. Check them out:
http://www.myspace.com/fmbelfast
Bloodgroup in London this week
Icelandic electrolytes Bloodgroup are playing in London this week. We had them at the Reykjavik Nights event in Kilburn last November and they were so much fun we that had to drink a lot of vodka to calm down after their set. Catch them at
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Old Blue Last: Night of the Dross | LONDON, UK | ||
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229 | LONDON, UK |
or on www.myspace.com/bloodgroup
