For being such a small island nation, Iceland has a fantastic breadth to its musickal girth. Because of Iceland's relative isolation, until the 19th century foreign influences were virtually absent. This resulted in the preservation of an ancient rhythm, called hákveða, lost in other Nordic countries, but considered one of the main characteristics of Icelandic musick. I have decided to showcase three disparate styles.
First off is Mezzoforte. Mezzoforte is an instrumental funk
fusion band from Iceland
formed in 1977. Original line-up from 1977: Friðrik “Frissi” Karlsson - guitar; Jóhann Ásmundsson – bass; Eyþór
Gunnarsson – keyboards; & Gunnlaugur “Gulli” Briem – drums. Their greatest hit
was "Garden Party" in 1983. The band is named after the traditional
musical term "mezzoforte", an instruction to play literally
"moderately loud".
On Monkey-fields, Mezzoforte’s original quartet is augmented
by: Tracy Akerman – vocals; Veigar Margeirsson – trumpet; Einar Jonsson - trombone; Oskar Gudjonsson - saxophone; Rowland Sutherland - flute; Sigurdur Flosason - bass clarinet, bass & alto flutes; Andrew Missingham
– programming & sampling.
Mezzoforte - Monkey-fields,
Zyx Music – CD031001, 1996.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist:
Monkey-Fields
1812 Premature
Make It Funky
Wee Ahh
Drive
Plan B
Blow
Step Right Back
Funeral for a Mouse
Tom Jam Blah
The Squid
Aurora
Monkey Fields / Jam
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As we begin approaching the Scandinavian Peninsula,
of course death metal rears its rotting face-painted head. Iceland’s Gone
Postal began as a four-piece hardcore band from Kópavogur. They were
founded in 2007 by Haukur Hannes & Nökkvi G. Gylfason. After some early
member changes (the dismissal of Jón P. Gunnarsson-drums & the recruitment
of Stefán A. Stefánsson - drums & Karl B. Flosason – bass) the band headed on a
more focused death metal path. In February 2009 founding member Haukur Hannes
left Gone Postal due to musical & personal differences. Currently Gone Postal
play old-school style death metal. In the Depths of Despair was released
in 2008 but as it’s sold out, the band made it available online so that more
people can listen to it.
On In the Depths of
Despair, Gone Postal are: Þorbjörn Steingrímsson- vocals; Haukur Hannes -
guitar; Nökkvi G. Gylfason – guitar & vocals; Daníel S. Hallgrímsson –
bass; & Stefán A. Stefánsson – drums. Backing vocals on “Soil Consumption”
by Kjartan from Severed Crotch (another Icelandic death metal band).
Gone Postal - In the Depths of Despair, Molestin Records, 2008.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist:
Modern Misanthrope
Postnatal Abortion
Throne of Depravity
Void of Torment
Soil Consumption
Roar of the Beheaded
Defiant Creation
Repulsive Hatred
Shotgun Reality
VIII
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I would be remiss if I
traveled through Iceland
without posting something by The Sugarcubes. The Sugarcubes are the biggest
group ever to emerge from Iceland.
Their debut Life's Too Good
attracted terrific reviews & became a college radio hit. When it fell upon
the ears of a very unsuspecting public in 1988, it was one of the most radical
& esoteric albums ever concocted, for a major label or otherwise. This
startlingly offbeat Icelandic quartet, helmed by a young singer named Bjork,
painted a surreal landscape of post-post-modern rock on a canvas decorated with
caterwauls, deflating horns, spicy guitar fills, & alternating
English/Icelandic lyrics.
According to musick lore, the Sugarcubes formed on June 8, 1986. That was the
day vocalist Björk gave birth to her & then husband Þór Eldon's son, Sindri
Eldon. Prior to that day, the members of the group had been a
variety of Icelandic bands. Björk had the longest career out of any of the
members. She had been performing since about age 11. By 1984, Björk, Einar Örn Benediktsson & Siggi Baldursson had
joined forces with keyboardist Einar Melax, forming KULK (which means
witchcraft in Icelandic). KULK was an noisy, artsy post-punk band that released
several singles on the independent British record label Crass. Then that
fateful day in June,1986 KUKL evolved into the Sugarcubes, adding Björk's
then-husband Thor Eldon on guitar and Bragi Ólafsson on bass.
This offering is the
early taped demos for Life’s Too Good. Early versions of key LTG tracks like
"Birthday" & "Coldsweat" appear here, as well as a
handful of unreleased tunes, like the busy "Leather" that should have
been a contender for the album.
The Sugarcubes were: Björk – vocals & keyboards; her then-husband Þór (Thor) Eldon – guitar; Bragi Olafsson on bass; Einar Örn Benediktsson – trumpet & vocals; & Siggi (Sigtryggur) Baldursson – drums.
The Sugarcubes – LTGDemo Sessions, DAT tape, 1986.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist:
Blue Eyed Pop
Traitor
Cat
Dragon
Birthday
Polo
Leather
Take Some Petrol Darling
Smokewell
Coldsweat
Fucking in Rhythm &
Sorrow
NØ
Mezzoforte
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Gone Postal
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The Sugarcubes
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Wow - Mezzoforte - I still have a couple of their LPs from the 1980's when I used to be penpals with a guy in Iceland who sent me 2 of their records. I really like their earlier stuff and am going to check out this post you made of their more recent stuff.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of the Sugarcubes Life's Too Good Demos - very cool. Thanks for another interesting post!
to IHateThe90s,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the personal anecdote about Mezzoforte. The Sugarcubes demos are good. Glad you enjoyed the post. It's off to Norway next.