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Reykjavík Needs Henrik Björnsson And His Music
Singapore Sling are one of the finer constants of Icelandic music. Throughout the last decade, the band has consistently released stunning music and played jaw-dropping, death-affirming shows while maintaining a pure and icy cool exterior of the sort that’s been inspiring young…
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A Good Long Nap
The Icelandic Opera is a strange little room. It’s a stripped-down, baroque-style hall with creaky seats and clattering doors. Every tiny sound—from the worst coughing fit to someone folding their concert ticket into origami—is as naturally amplified as the five musicians sitting…
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Processions
It would be nigh on impossible to describe the complexities of Daníel Bjarnason’s debut album in 150 words, but suffice it to say it´s pretty powerful stuff. Processions may be a classical composition, but there also seems to be some rock and…
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Logn / Manslaughter: Split
Exploding out of the gate in true Nasum fashion, both guns grinding, with an evil yet instantly memorable main riff. To make a long story short, every Logn song, save for one, slays and impresses with remarkable ease. For a debut recording…
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Who Knew: Bits And Pieces Of A Major Spectacle
Ever since Jakobínarína disappeared, Iceland has been crying out for a rousing INDIE ROCK band to rally behind. OK it hasn’t, but it certainly looks like Who Knew are applying for the job with their debut album. The first thing you notice…
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Sundhöll Reykjavíkur
Reykjavík’s only indoor swimming pool also offers nice outdoor hot-tubs to soak in. The pool is only a minute walk from Laugavegur shopping street and a perfect place to relax after a busy day in the city. Address: Baronstígur 45a, 101 Reykjavík…
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Nauthólsvík Thermal Beach
The artificially beach in Nauthólsvík is a fun place to cool down in Reykjavík during the rare hot summer day. Featuring specially imported white sand, they pump geothermal water into the ocean so you can take a dip without freezing to death.…
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Austurvöllur
Site of Iceland’s House of Parliament, Austurvöllur is where the kitchenware revolution of January 2009 took place. Go there on sunny days to relax or check out the omnipresent protestors. Where: Posthússtræti & Kirkjustræti, 101 Reykjavík
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Downtown Literary Walking Tour
Reykjavik City Library hosts a guided literary walking tour in English every Thursday in July and August at 17:00. The walks are free of charge and the guides are an actor and a critic. The walk, which lasts for about an hour…
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Jón Tryggvi: Silkmjúk er syndin
At school, most people would go mental over Indie or the latest dance music. However, there was always someone who would glide around acting like a 40-year old, saying they were into the likes of Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, saying that…
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Carpe Noctem: Carpe Noctem
A great debut from one of Iceland’s most promising metal bands Black metal may be Satan’s music but the only I time got scared listening to Carpe Noctem’s excellent debut was at the beginning of Metamorphoses Maleficarum, where Iceland’s leading religious zealot…
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The Rhythm Got Them. Eventually
It started with the biggest group hug I‘ve ever seen. I strolled into the rather sparse arena and up to the front of the room and quickly saw that the dance floor was full, but everyone was parted like the Red Sea.…
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Dr Gunni History of Icelandic Music Rock Part 18
Ahh… 1981. The best year in Iceland’s rock history. At least for me, a 15 year old whose life music had taken over completely. Bubbi Morthens and his Utangarðsmenn—the most popular band in Iceland—were already passé for forward thinking dudes like myself.…
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A Breath Of Fresh Air
Oh boy, a lot has gone down in the seven months since the last Iceland Airwaves festival. For starters, the festival has changed hands from its long-time managers Mr. Destiny to a joint deal between Icelandair and Iceland Music Export. Last month,…
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Serðir Monster: Tekið stærst upp í sig
Not really an ‘album’ of ‘music’, unless you think of Weird Al Yankovic as a ‘musician’ who makes ‘albums.’ TSUÍS sees Sverrir Stormsker’s alter-ego belting out an inane collection of familiar pop songs, with the lyrics altered to themes of political discontent,…
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Nögl: I Proudly Present
Well, yes indeed: why not be proud of what you produce? We were massively proud of a cake we made yesterday. And then proud of the massive turd that the cake produced today. And, hey, wow, guess what? This album’s sweet, shit,…
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Hafdís Huld: Synchronised Swimmers
Contrary to what the album cover and sleeve would have you believe, Synchronised Swimmers is as straightforward and un-quirky as they come. It is pure acoustic pop, uncomplicated and simple, with not even a semblance of divergence, although some hints at depth…
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BB & Blake
BB & Blake comprises former GusGus-er Magnús Jónsson along with Vera Sölvadóttir. The band has been going for a while now, but their début album only saw the light of day this winter. I’m going to get brickbats from my metal loving…
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Smashing The System, One Release At A Time
I would guess that when most people think of the word “collective” they usually think of Stalinist Russia, dirty smelly hippies, or The Borg with their S&M kitchen tools. But in these post-kreppa days, resources are scarce. It makes more sense…
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The Coma Cluster: Observation
The Coma Cluster is a project consisting of Hallvarður Ásgeirsson (Stórsveit Nix Noltes), composer Siffvilnius, and musicians from Denmark and Japan. They’ve used the internet to create their debut across 3 continents without meeting in person. Interesting, but is it any good?…
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Visualizing A Universe Of Hope
Since conquering the francophone World Music charts over the last decade, Amadou & Mariam from Mali have recently taken the rest of the music world by storm. Often referred to as ‘the blind couple from Africa,’ their latest album, Welcome To Mali,…
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Uni: Enchanted
On the cover sleeve of Enchanted, Uni gives the impression of being otherworldly and inhabiting the spheres of artists such as Bat for Lashes, Tori Amos and the Grand Priestess Overlord herself, Björk. Either that or a startled meerkat with some tinfoil…
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Gjöll: Sum Of Transformations
Most people think of nature as cute animals in meadows, set to a Sigur rós song. These people are idiots. Nature is primeval, harsh, and will tear your throat out, while the animals will feast on your corpse… after having sex with…