Author: - The Reykjavik Grapevine

Author: Nathan Hall

Höfnin Hljómar – Electronic Music From Iceland

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Released for a recent Airwaves, ‘Höfnin Hljómar’ (or ‘Harbor Sounds’) is a sampler of some of Iceland’s experimental electronic musicians….

5

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The jazz quartet ADHD has a stellar track record for quality and consistency. Their latest release, ‘5’, is no different,…

Clockworking

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The new record from Icelandic chamber music ensemble Nordic Affect showcases new works combining historical performance traditions with fresh new…

Umleikis

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Composer/violinist Una Sveinbjarnardóttir’s new album of violin solos is titled ‘Umleikis’, or “playing around.” Una is best known for her…

The Right Gender: Composer Karólína Eiríksdóttir on making ‘Magnus-Maria’

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‘Magnus-Maria’, a progressive new opera from Icelandic composer Karólína Eiríksdóttir and Swedish director Suzanne Osten, will make its Iceland debut…

Theatrics

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‘Theatrics’ is Puzzle Muteson’s second album on the Bedroom Community imprint. He is still elusively hushed in style; his Antony-like…

Innra

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Rökkurró’s third album ‘Innra’ (or “inner”) comes to us four years after their quiet but stunning sophomore outing, ‘Í annan…

Aeoline

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DADA is the musical outlet of one Sigtryggur Ari Jóhannsson, who creates music inspired by mid-century analog synthesizers and the…

Krómantík

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Sóley’s latest outing, ‘Krómantík’, surprises. The EP departs from her usual pop-tinged songwriting, instead delivering a very short collection of…

To Them We Are Only Shadows

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‘To Them We Are Only Shadows’ is the latest album from veteran Icelandic musicians Worm Is Green, a band celebrating…

A Requiem For A Lost Industry

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Jóhann Jóhannsson presents ‘The Miners’ Hymns’ with The Iceland Symphony OrchestraJóhann Jóhannsson and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra will present the…

Iceland’s Sonic Landscape: Driving The Ring Road

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A composer’s road trip around the country Not long ago, I was packing my travel bag into the back of…

Home

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With several albums under her belt, two No. 1 singles on the Icelandic music charts, and world touring with Gusgus…

In the Eye of the Storm

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A valiant folk-rock effort falls a bit shortThe trio of musicians in Monotown (two of them brothers) released their first…

This Is Icelandic Indie Music (Vol. II)

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Despite the name, this sampling of Record Records’ roster carries some of the most prominent bands in the country, and…

Sorrí

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Prins Póló, the essentially one-man-band project of Svavar Pétur Eysteinsson (Skakkamanage), has a new album out titled ‘Sorrí.’ I’m not…

M-Band – Haust

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‘Haust’ Gives GusGus A Run For Their KrónurHörður Már Bjarnason’s solo album ‘Haust’ (or “Autumn”), under his band name M-Band,…

4 Hliðar

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On Samúel Jón Samúelsson’s retro-styled album ‘4 Hliðar’ (“Four Sides”, as in vinyl), the composer uses an extended album format…

Emilíana Torrini: Tookah

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Emilíana Torrini’s new album ‘Tookah’ is brimming with her signature sound: quiet vocals, smooth orchestrations, subtle beats, guitar pickings, and…

Valgeir Sigurðsson: Architecture Of Loss

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On ‘Architecture of Loss,’ Valgeir Sigurðsson pares down musical selections originally written for Stephen Petronio’s ballet of the same name….

Sigurður Sævarsson: Missa Pacis

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Composer Sigurður Sævarsson’s new album out, ‘Missa Pacis,’ blossoms with harmonies for choir, organ, cello, and percussion. I heard ‘Missa…

Dark Music Days

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Reykjavík’s Dark Music Days Festival (Myrkir Músíkdagar) is a bit like Iceland Airwaves, if Airwaves catered mostly to hip classical…