Grapevine Playlist: Berndsen, GYDA, Vök, aYia, AAIIEENN, Jón Jónsson, Sólveig Matthildur & More

As Airwaves approaches, more and more new music starts to appear. Here are the tracks we’ve been enjoying… or, in one case, not.

GYDA – Moonchild
Gyða Valtýsdóttir, who initially rose to prominence as a member of múm, reemerges from a long period of musical incubation with the GYDA solo project. Her album, ‘Evolution,’ is a thoughtful collection that brings together Gyða’s delicate compositions written over a period of years, then intuitively recorded in just twenty days. The results are a spellbinding form of hyper-sensitive, ethereal musical poetry. JR

Vök – Night and Day
The ever slick ‘n’ shiny pop music of Vök gets a little happier. Their new single has a lazy, hazy synth-pop summer sound, with one foot in the ‘80s and the other in the ‘00s revival of pop’s golden decade—imagine a Bananarama cassette put through Ariel Pink’s dishwasher. JR

Spaces by AAIIEENN

AAIIEENN – Spaces
This accomplished modular synth record has shades of Battles, 90s electronica and hyperactive chiptunes. ‘Spaces‘ is a fun, ever-evolving journey into a colourful electronic world. JR

aYia – Slow
Having announced their long-awaited debut album will be released via Bedroom Community on November 16th, aYia have put out another eerie video, this time directed by Alexandre Souêtre. The track stutters and palpitates along over striking scenes that conjure a feeling of the uncanny. JR

Berndsen – Birds of Prey
Berndsen is currently prowling the United States on tour, promoting his new album ‘Alter Ego.’ His new video, directed by Thoracius Appotite, sees him meditating in an analogue laser world as Vangelis synths sing out in the background and he croons existentially about us all being, like, dust in the wind. JR

Sólveig Matthildur – Affliction/Absolution by Sólveig Matthildur

Solveig Matthildur – Affliction/Absolution
Iceland’s gothic pop princess goes from strength to strength with this AA-side release. ‘Absolution’ is a stunning track with a cathedral-like reverb, filled with the affecting intensity of Sólveig’s swooning voice. A single of the year contender. JR

Jón Jónsson – Með þér
‘Með þér’ is a slow paced, cheesy piece in which one of the lyrics tells the listener to go to the store and buy “a pick ’n’ mix for 100 krona.” That sums up the mood of the song pretty well—doing everyday things, or possibly sitting in the doctor’s office, where you have to listen to this dreary single. CS

Unnur Sara Sings Gainsbourg
If you’ve ever thought Serge Gainsbourg’s smooth French chansons would sound better in the clipped Icelandic accent, Unnur Sara has fixed that for you with this album of eccentric Serge covers. JR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLw8tokfPsM

Alexander Jarl – Fyrir mig
Opening with tropical rhythms Alexander Jarl’s new track ‘Fyrir mig’ definitely has that sitting-at-the-beach-bar flair. Danceable hip-hop has a name. CS