Like eighty-five ravenous polar bears simultaneously disembarking from icebergs and charging towards Akureyri, here are the latest fearsome barrages from the Icelandic music scene.
Good Moon Deer – Aloner
The choppy, glitching, tumbling electronica of Good Moon Deer jumps into warp speed with this excellent new single, featuring fractured snatches of vocals, wriggling bass and spasmodic rhythms. For all the chaos, the production feels like it has a renewed sense of focus. We’re looking forward to the album. JR
Emigrate – War (Seint Remix)
Seint remixes the grand synth pop of Rammstein’s Richard Z. Kruspe, who goes under the solo moniker of Emigrate. Seint picks up on the dark synth undercurrent of the epic original and pushes it to the forefront, creating an arena-sized anthem in the process. JR
Wanton Boys Club – The Mandarin
A comparison to Todd Terje’s Inspector Norse isn’t out of line on this one, not only in terms of the Scandi-Italo soundscape, but for the unexpected twists and turns and the majestic, joyful composition that just keeps growing. SP
Hafdís Bjarnadóttir – A Northern Year (January-June)
Composer and electric guitarist Hafdís Bjarnadóttir just dropped her two-part project ‘A Northern Year.’ The first track—documenting January to June—is experimental mood music to the nth degree. Hafdís apparently transforms data about the sun’s position over Reykjavík and turns it into melodies and rhythms. Expect weird rhythms and jazzy soundscapes. HJC
LDN TING – GABRIEL MANI & GK3
You’ll probably be singing this track all day after hearing it. Is this satire? We genuinely don’t know. You gotta take it for what it is, and what it is is a solid banger with a great beat and fucking catchy chorus. The lyrics are basically what you’d find if you Googled ‘London’, i.e. Tracksuit-ting. Camden-ting. Grime-ting. Nike fleece-ting. Basically the early days of Gísli Pálmi. Lots of fire emojis in the comment section. LDN TING forever. (Is it satire, tho?) HJC
Andy Svarthol – Oculi Cordis
A multilayered tune that blesses the listener with outstanding vocals. The melodies in this track are slightly reminiscent of Icelandic folk but with a modern, electronic edge. Andy Svarthol—a duo made up of brothers Egill and Bjarki Hreinn Viðarsson—serve up some on-point harmonies. AU
Úlfur Úlfur – Hraði
While rap duo Úlfur Úlfur previously announced retirement after their 2017 album ‘Hefnið okkar,’ they clearly couldn’t stay away from the studio for long. Back with an uncharacteristically upbeat effort, the boys are serving up some disco vibes in ‘Hraði.’ A get-down dancing tune, it’s new territory for the group—one that we are completely ready for. HJC
Jökull Logi – Glitter
Jazzy hip-hop. It’s a combination you might not have asked for, but one you’ll be happy to receive from new artist Jökull Logi. At only 1:50, ‘Glitter’ is but a short taste of the musician, with a soothing, suave, stylish and somewhat sexy vibe. It made us want more. Hopefully he’ll be back soon with some longer beats. HJC
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