Iceland

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

###########################################

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

 ###########################################

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

Enjoy the journey,

NØ