Punk in Iceland RÚV Podcast (2009)

Download the 6 chapters of an Icelandic radio (RÚV) show about the Icelandic punk scene here

Singapore Sling "Never Forever" Released on Friday the 13th - Fault Magazine Interview with Henrik Björnsson

Singapore Sling
"Never Forever" title track of the new album released this month on Outlier Records


Singapore Sling - Never Forever by Outlier Records

Singapore Sling - You Can't Compare (2011) by Outlier Records

Read the interview of Fault Magazine with singer Henrik Björnsson here

Ólafur Arnalds on a Solo Tour in The Netherlands, Belgium & Germany in July 2011

Ólafur Arnalds on a solo tour this summer

An evening with Ólafur Arnalds - Introduction from Ólafur Arnalds

Tour Dates

Song of the 217. Week is Vigri's "Drag down the dark"

217. Song of the Week is "Drag down the dark" by Vigri. A song from their album "Pink Boats"
Vigri is an Icelandic band with melodic and classical elements formed in Reykjavik 2008. The group consisted in the beginning only of brothers Bjarki and Hans Pjetursson and then later expanded into a five piece band. Atli Jónasson on drums, Þórir Bergson on guitar, bass, keyboards and brass, Egill Halldórsson on bass and keyboards.
The band name is taken from the final ship that the brothers' grandfather ever sailed on as a captain (Vigri RE-71). The making of Pink Boats began in Flatey Island. The initial plan was to record the album over a one month period but soon the project began to expand from the original intentions. Still, most of the album was recorded on an old laptop with only one microphone. In accordance with the unique atmosphere surrounding the Flatey Island recordings, the band decided to continue recording the album in unusual places, such as Esjustofa Restaurant at the roots of Esja mountain, a community centre of a retirement home in Reykjavík, an abandoned herring storage tank in the west fjords of Iceland and the tall tower of Hallgrímskirkja Church in the centre of Reykjavík. The album's name derives from a vision that haunted the band during their recording sessions when the red Icelandic sunset would lie over the sea's horizon and turn all the boats from white to pink.
Buy the album @ Gogoyoko

Agent Fresco "Implosions" New Video

Agent Fresco
"Implosions", a song from their debut album "A Long Time Listening"
Direction & Photography Jónatan Grétarsson
Buy the album @ Gogoyoko

Upcoming gigs in Reykjavík in June 2011

Route 101  

Where to go the next weeks to enjoy some live music downtown 101 Reykjavík?
I suggest you enjoy some local DJ's.
 
Wednesday 1. June 2011
Agent Fresco, Benny Crespo's Gang, Valdimar, Andvari @ Sódóma @ 23:00 - Admission: 1000 IKR - To support the European Tour of Agent Fresco
Retro Stefson @ NASA @ 22:00 - Admission: 1000 IKR in advance (1500 IKR @ door) 
Thursday 2. June 2011
Support Gig for Celestine @ Faktorý @ 22:00  - Supporting acts by At Dodge City, 2 Tickets To Japan, Swords of Chaos, Muck - Admission: 1000 IKR
gímaldin & félagar, Trausti Laufdal @ Rock Bar Dillon @ 22:00
Friday 3. June 2011 
Svínarí # 3 with Valdimar, Berndsen & The Young Boys & Jón Þór @ Faktorý @ 23:00 - DJ Logi Pedro @ 23:30
Tattoo Music festival with Endless Dark, Hoffman, Vintage Caravan & Legend @ Sódóma @ 00:00 
Saturday 4. June  
Tattoo Music festival Rockabilly Night with Texas Muffin, El Camino (Surf rock), 59's feat. Krummi & Daníel Ágúst @ Sódóma @ 00:00
Bang Gang & Ourlives @ NASA @ 23:00 - Admission: 1000 IKR  
Skurken, Tonik, Beatmakin Troopa, Orang Volante, Plat, Steve Sampling, Murya, Futuregrapher @ Bakkus @ 20:00 -  A collaboration with the Dutch TodaysArt
Thursday 9. June 2011
Útidúr, Nolo, Sóley, Jón Þór @ Faktorý @ 22:00 - Admission: 1000 IKR
Saturday 18. June 2011  
GusGus Release Concert "Arabian Horse" @ NASA 
Ticket sale starts on 30. May @ 10:00 @ MIDI

Snorri Helgason "Don't let her" Live on Icelandic TV

Snorri Helgason Live on Icelandic television
"Don't let her", a song from his debut album out on Kimi Records "I'm gonna put my name on your door"
Buy the album @ Gogoyoko

Don't Let Her (live on Icelandic TV) from Snorri Helgason

Prinspóló @ Birthday Party @ Ísafjörður

Prinspóló playing @ Birthday Party @ Ísafjörður for MTV Canada

Remix by Jack Schidt & Sexy Lazer

"Icelandic Vegetables" by Eberg

Eberg, along with collaborator Pétur Ben, wrote and produced this summery and organic jingle for the Icelandic Vegatable Board, assisted by the angelic voice of Elín Ey.
The ad was produced by Smalinn & Sons for Íslenska, and directed by Hannes Thor.

Icelandic Vegetables from Medialux Music Productions
A longer version
Icelandic Vegetables by Medialux

Retro Stefson "Papa Paulo III" in Backyard Movie + Planetarium Session

Retro Stefson
"Papa Paulo III"

Retro Stefson @ Planetarium

Retro Stefson - Planetarium (detektor.fm Akustik-Session) from detektor.fm

Megas & Senuþjófarnir Live @ Græni Hatturinn, Akureyri (April 2011)

Megas & Senuþjófarnir live performance @ Græni Hatturinn @ Akureyri

Arnljótur "Vedurfrjettir" & "Plasmaorder" Videos

Arnljótur
"Vedurfrjettir"

Vedurfrjettir from Arnljótur Sigurðsson
"Plasmaorgan"

Plasmaorgan from Arnljótur Sigurðsson

Song of the 216. Week is Kira Kira's "Gremlin Holiday"

216. Song of the Week is "Gremlin Holiday" by Kira Kira (Kristín Björk Kristjánsdóttir).
Kira Kira @ MySpace
A song of the Album "Our Map to the Monster Olympics" (Smekkleysa, 2008).
Buy the album @ Gogoyoko

"Gremlin Holiday" Live @ Vox, Maldegem, Belgium (2009)

Retro Stefson "Kimba" in the Djór Deep Kimba RMX

Retro Stefson remixed by Djór (aka Janus Rasmussen of Bloodgroup)
"Kimba"   Retro Stefson - Kimba (Djór Deep Kimba Remix) by Djór

Agent Fresco Summer Tour Data in June & July 2011

Agent Fresco on Tour this summer
June 
16.06.11 D Cologne, Sonic Ballroom
17.06.11 CH Thun, Cafe Bar Mokka
18.06.11 CZ Volyne, Koupák Smack Fest
20.06.11 SK Kosice, Tabacka Kulturfabrik
21.06.11 PL Wroclaw, Puzzle
22.06.11 D Erfurt, Stadtgarten
23.06.11 A Dornbirn, Kulturcafé Schlachthaus
24.06.11 CH Sursee, Kulturwerk 118
25.06.11 D Solingen, Waldmeister
27.06.11 NL Heemskerk, Café Lokaal
29.06.11 DK Roskilde Festival
July 
02.07.11 D Berlin, Festsaal Kreuzberg
04.07.11 D Frankfurt, Das Bett
Live @ Harpa, Reykjavik

Opening of Harpa with Parabolur

Interview with Siggi Baldursson by Reykjavik Grapevine
Featuring his Parabolur Percussion Project (PPP)

Icelandic Artists @ SPOT 2011

This years' SPOT festival in Aarhus in Denmark May 27th-28th will showcase four (and a half) Icelandic acts. The festival focuses on new and upcoming music from Scandinavia.
Iceland's pop rockers Dikta, the self proclaimed Icelandic Elvis Mugison, the highly talented singer/songwriter Helgi Jónsson and legendary rock band Ham will perform at SPOT festival this year. In addition, the half Icelandic half Danish band, Dad Rocks! will perform at the event. To view the full list of artists performing this year click here.

Dad Rocks!

Sat May 28, 18.00 @ Archauz
Dad Rocks! Website
"Crafting delicately arranged pop music, Snævar Albertsson combines a quirky yet personal lyrical universe with a unique take on musical traditions such as folk, pop and indie"

Dikta

Sat May 28, 14.00 @ Musikhuset, Rytmisk Sal
Dikta's site
"Soulful and haunting melodies made this award-winning pop-rock outfit the biggest and best-selling band in Iceland. Their powerful live show has earned them a shout-out in Rolling Stone and SPIN. DON'T miss out!"

HAM

Fri May 27, 18.00 @ Voxhall
"The great gods of Iceland rock" - The New York Grapevine

Helgi Jónsson

Helgi Jónsson's Website
Fri May 27, 21.30 @ Musikhuset, Lille Sal
"From angelic falsetto passages to gut-wrenching screams, the spectrum of his vocal ability amazes, touches and captivates the unpoised listener."

Mugison

Fri May 27, 20.00 @ Musikhuset, Rytmisk Sal
Mugison's Website
“The enlightened few will understand the words, the wisdom and muse of this very twisted genius. And they will rejoice.” The FlySPOT 2011 artists by Iceland Music Export

Vicky "Feel good" New Video

Vicky
"Feel good" is the First single from Vicky's second album "Cast a Light" that will be out this summer.
Director/Producer: Óskar Bragi Stefánsson
Director of photography: Hákon Sverrisson
Editor: Ólafur Már Jónsson

Vicky's Website

Retro Stefson @ Ja Ja Ja Music @ The Lexington, London on 26. May 2011

Last Ja Ja Ja before the summer and they have a fab line up!

Young Dreams will impress, even before their opening note hits your lucky ears, with their stage-packing 12 members. On first listen, comparisons can be made with Animal Collective, with both finely skilled in making dreamy, otherworldly soundscapes and experimental, lush pop. There’s also the classic sound of Phil Spector and Brain Wilson in their youthful energy, making Young Dreams the perfect blend of both comfortingly familiar and daringly unique. They will be your new favourite band.

Retro Stefson, another stage filler with their 7 members, are one of Iceland’s brightest hopes and best live bands. They effortlessly and energetically fuse surf, latin, blues and afro (among other influences) into a refreshing pop sound overflowing with fun and vigour.

And for something completely different, Eleanoora Rosenholm is the work of three incredibly respected Finnish artists who have written three concept albums which narrate the dramatic and disturbed odyssey of a suburban housewife to “hysterically kaleidoscopic pop” – Time Out. Its idiosyncratic beauty is its ability to sit so left of centre yet raise comparisons crossing a wide spectrum from the likes of Kylie Minogue, Abba and Mondonna to Smashing Pumpkins (comparisons made by Pitchfork, who hailed the bands’ latest album an “art-disco rollercoaster” (8.2/10). Popmatters perhaps sum it up more deftly “Eleanoora Rosenholm, from the opening notes through the haunting, balladic finale, transport you completely to an alternate world”.
Ja Ja Ja Music

GusGus Live @ Harpa 13. May 2011

GusGus Live @ Harpa Music Hall & Conference Center @ Reykjavik on Friday 13. May 2011
"Within you" & "Over"
With guest vocals by Earth &the singer Högni Egilsson of the Icelandic band Hjaltalín

Music Alliance Pact (MAP) # 32 (May 2011)

It's time for the 32nd I love Icelandic music/Icelandic Music Maffia contribution to an international initiative, the Music Alliance Pact, aka MAP. I take part in this Blog Alliance since the start in October 2008. On a monthly basis music bloggers from around the globe select a track from their country which is then posted collectively and simultaneously on those blogs - giving each nation's track international exposure.
A trip around the world in 36 songs with a take off in Iceland:
This month I contributed the song"Pretty face" of the duo Nolo.

To download all 36 songs in one file click http://www.mediafire.com/?vy36lr1ur8r14y9">here

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Pablo Krantz - Et C'est Ainsi Que Tu T'en Vas
Pablo Krantz is a well-established musician and writer born in Buenos Aires. After making a name for himself in the local alternative scene with two great albums, he moved to Paris for several years, where he released an album in which he sings entirely in French. DÈmonos Cita En Una Autopista (Para Volvernos A Estrellar) is his fifth record, and the first one since he returned to Argentina. A mix between these two stages in Krantz's career, Et C'est Ainsi Que Tu T'en Vas is a great song to start digging into his work.


AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Chet Faker - No Diggity
Chet Faker is a new electronic artist on the Melbourne scene. His tie-dye facial hair + wifebeater singlet + smoooooooth cover of a bangin' 90s anthem has definitely brought him some attention. TOP THIS. No, this isn't a (total) joke - it's a sweet 2011 treatment for a song that many people probably didn't think was worth a revisit.


BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
Lise - Parece Constantina
Parece Constantina is a preview of Qualquer Fr·gil Fio de Fantasia, the new album from Lise, which is the side-project of multi-instrumentalist Daniel Nunes (drummer of the band Constantina, who played at this year's SXSW). The name of the song means "sounds like Constantina", in reference to his main band. Despite being a very experimental post-rock/electronic project, this track dialogues with hip hop through the vocals from members of Zimun and increases the musical spectrum of the genre.


CANADA: I(Heart)Music
The Guest Bedroom - Tough Luck
Buzzing guitars, thundering drums, impassioned female vocals... Sleater-Kinney and their grrrl-y ilk may be gone, but The Guest Bedroom show they're not forgotten. For three albums now - up to their most recent, A Year's Supply Of Rabbit's Feet - TGB have shown that there's plenty of life in a genre too many people thought died at the turn of the century and, as songs like Tough Luck show, they know how to make that old music sound as fresh and as vital as ever.


CHILE: Super 45
Megajoy - Rainbow Drama
"Techno sudaka sci-fi from the information age" - that's how Megajoy (alias for Hector LlanquÌn) defines his peculiar musical view. Nervous beats, insane samples and a million pop references per second are the raw materials which Megajoy works with. His debut album Avidya (self-released, 2011), available for free download on his website, is a collection of twisted dance songs with a strong sense of humor and a subversive spirit, making this record one of this year's essentials.


CHINA: Wooozy
Shanren - Thirty Years
Yunnan folk-rock phenomenon Shanren fuse Yunnan/Guizhou indigenous music with various modern styles to produce a fresh sound as accessible as it is unique. They aim to promote and preserve the combined and diverse heritage of Yunnan and Guizhou's many ethnic minority groups through their own original compositions and reworkings of local folk melodies.


COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana
Katamaran - Ella No Es Como Tu
Katamaran is a ska band from Bucaramanga. Their most recent album, Imparable, mixes horns with others styles including rap. This single, Ella No Es Como Tu, is in the Colombian indie chart.


DENMARK: All Scandinavian
Mescalin, Baby - She's Near, She's Near, She's Here
Mescalin, Baby release their full-length debut, Air Air, on May 23, following up on 2009's debut EP, No Time For The Old In-Out Love, which earned the quintet both praise and airplay. The retro-orientated rock with splashes of folk on the forthcoming album stands a good chance of repeating the success, and I'm happy to be able to share She's Near, She's Near, She's Here with you as a MAP exclusive.


ENGLAND: The Guardian Music Blog
Ben Howard - Empty Corridors (Live)
Male British singer-songwriters are hardly thin on the ground and yet, even given the crowded market, Ben Howard stands out. A 24-year-old Devon boy with a penchant for surfing, he's just released an EP on the Mumford-affiliated Communion label and has signed thereafter to Island - he apparently inked the deal because of their history with Nick Drake and John Martyn. And that's Howard all over: folk-pop with substance and class. On this, a live version of Empty Corridors, he showcases, as a recent New Band of the Day article put it, a "guitar sound that recalls Drake's complex tunings, while every so often you expect his gently gruff tones to start warbling Martyn's Bless The Weather". Marvellous.


ESTONIA: Popop
Kali Briis - Home Alone
After releasing some EPs, two of them available for free here, Kali Briis is finally bringing out his full-length debut album Homewrecker on May 16. Kali doesn't care much about borders of genres, feeling equally comfortable in R'n'B, electro, hip-hop or any other style he feels like trying. MAP exclusive Home Alone from the new album is a full-on handmade electro track featuring synths, guitars, bass and drums all played by Kali himself.


FINLAND: Glue
Mummypowder - A House
After a few years struggling with the precarious stability of an indie band, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Janne Lehtinen got his mummies together and this month he is finally publishing Mummypowder's long-awaited fourth album. The first single, A House, is a melodic power-pop ballad with Janne's vocals upfront accompanied by layers of guitars to build up an intense momentum.


FRANCE: Yet You're Fired
Porco Rosso - 10.000 Lieues ¿ La Ronde
Singing pop in French is not easy, and not every band gives it a try, but some brilliantly succeed, as Porco Rosso show. Formed in 2002, the three members have found their own style - a balance between their influences and their personality. After releasing two EPs (2004, 2006), they dropped their LP, La Vie Sans Moi ("Life Without Me"), last year. You might not understand the lyrics of 10.000 Lieues ¿ La Ronde, but you don't have to - the rhythm and the vocals are too catchy not to appreciate.


GERMANY: Blogpartei
Angela Aux - Smells Like Screen Spirit
Angela Aux is the solo project of Heiner Hendrix aka Flo from last year's MAP featured L'egojazz. He calls the style of his recently released debut, Whatever You Guess It's Not, weird Kraut-folk. Smells Like Screen Spirit is a fine mÈlange of groovy, catchy bass, scratchy sound effects and melancholic vocals. It will fit perfectly with a summer sunset at your local lake when you're cheerful as well as blue.


GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
May Roosevelt - Dark The Night
May Roosevelt's sophomore, self-released album harnesses a spectrum of emotions unveiling a dark and reclusive universe defined by motion and dance. Rhythms rich with contemporary elements weaved on theremin sounds, electronic beats and synthesizers coalesce with evocative melodies drawing on Greek traditional musical heritage. Every note is considered and played with care and a sense of craft. The more you listen to it, the more it falls into place and traps you under its spell.


ICELAND: Icelandic Music Maffia
Nolo - Pretty Face
Nolo is a young, very promising band from Reykjavik. They are two 18-year-old guys, Nonnji Lorange and Ivör Björnsson, who had already played together in different bands for some years before they deceided to work together as Nolo. They record all their music with lo-fi equipment in Ivör's basement, using two guitars (electric and acoustic) and an organ.


INDIA: Indiecision
Peter Cat Recording Co - Love Demons
Peter Cat Recording Co is one of the newest, freshest young talents to emerge out of the growing Indian indie music scene. The quartet from New Delhi create orchestral soundscapes that throw Neutral Milk Hotel and disco Bollywood in a washing machine with cabaret Tide. Love Demons represents this musical laundry cycle perfectly. The song, one of the highlights of the band's wholly refreshing debut album Sinema, channels Quincy Jones and Bappi Lahiri for five minutes of an exciting car chase through the crowded streets of Delhi.


INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Swimming Elephants - Sarah
Swimming Elephants are a collective of young people who write complex arrangements of pop music pieces using simple chords. They are one of the best newcomers in the Indonesian indie scene.


IRELAND: Nialler9
Le Galaxie - Midnight Midnight
Dublin-based mischievous visualists Le Galaxie release their debut album Laserdisc Nights II on June 10 after a few years honing their astral night-time music. Midnight Midnight is a perfect indicator of the four-piece band thus far: thumping electro, sci-fi synths, big 80s drum drops and vocals that make you go "woooooooo". TUNE.


ISRAEL: Metal Israel
Spawn Of Evil - First Stone
Spawn Of Evil is an iconic death metal band that's been on the Israeli scene for 13 years. Guitarist Miko Haronian describes First Stone as not "so political as it looks - more reality. Some leaders say 'Destroy Israel' all day long and the world is silent... so this is our answer to this - come on, try!" Spawn Of Evil mixes rambunctious gleeful energy release with quality meat and potatoes death metal. They are seeking a label for their latest album, Ecstatic Aggressive Behavior. Check them out.


ITALY: Polaroid
Quakers And Mormons - New York Town
Maolo and Mancho are from the band My Awesome Mixtape, which was featured in the June 2009 edition of MAP. Now they've started a new project, more hip-hop oriented. Think of a sound influenced by Anticon and Antipop Consortium, and mixed with some of the sumptuous TV On The Radio arrangements. Add dark lyrics delivered with an apocalyptical strain and, bang, you have this killer debut album, aptly named Evolvotron.


MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
Aeiou - Vivimos In L.A.
Aeiou's album Space Hymn is the unexpected joint venture between elfin vocalist Juan Son and Simone Pace (Blonde Redhead's drummer), with some surprising collaborations with Kelley Deal (The Breeders) and an unnamed, mysterious character. Vivimos In L.A. ("We Live In L.A."), reflects the city-hopping lifestyle experienced by the members: Simone has lived in Milan, Montreal, Boston and New York; while Juan, born in Guadalajara, has also had L.A. and the Big Apple as homes. Irrespective of the passports, the song and album show touches of ethereal, androgynous space-beauty.


NETHERLANDS: Unfold Amsterdam
Aux Raus - Oh No, It's Them!
You can technically get away with calling this Amsterdam duo's music 'electro punk', but whereas most bands courting such a label want to fuse those two elements, Aux Raus come across like a drunken punch-up between them - the wiry punk riffs and roars virtually taunting the techno and gabba-spewing drum machines. And that's just the start of a series of contrasts which include: songs channelling equal measures of political fury and silliness; that they're part anonymous anarcho-freaks and part leaders of style cool; and that they're at their best wreaking havoc in a club with 300 moshing kids but can easily transfer such energy to headlining festivals. This track is from their newly released third album, All Creeping Things Stopped Creeping.


NEW ZEALAND: Einstein Music Journal
Sheep,Dog&Wolf - Not Aquatic
A MAP premiere - former Bandicoot drummer Daniel McBride presents his solo project Sheep,Dog&Wolf, leaving behind his punk roots to weave a complex fusion of Motown, jazz and pop music. After months recording in his bedroom, the 17-year-old multi-instrumentalist's music resembles a young Sufjan Stevens, layered with strings, horns and percussion, while curious time signatures and his beautifully incandescent voice balance an unusual amalgamation of whimsically flirtatious styles.


NORWAY: Birds Sometimes Dance
Burning God Little - Notes On Being Snowblind
Martin Hartgren aka Burning God Little has been played quite a lot on Norwegian radio lately. Call it chillwave, call it dreampop, bedroom electronic, samplertronica, even shoegaze - whatever it is, it's great. You can easily hear inspiration from Neon Indian, Washed Out, Panda Bear and Gold Panda, but he's never a dull copy. He has his own way of mixing heavy backbeat drumbeats, samples and sometimes hauntingly beautiful harmonies and melodies.


PERU: SoTB
Pilotocopiloto - Infante
Pilotocopiloto is an instrumental rock duo consisting of Carlos Freyre and Juan Pablo Aragon. Their music can be described as a powerful fusion of guitar and drums, with their interest in experimentation allowing them to dabble in minimalist ambient sounds and psychedelic effects. This mixture fills their instrumental songs with freshness. They recently released their self-titled debut album which is just as well because Infante definitely makes you want more.


PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Norton - Two Points
Norton is band from a city in the center of Portugal with a considerable fanbase and three albums to their name. Their latest one, Layers Of Love United, is a turning point for the band after their lead singer left and was replaced by one of the members who used to be on backing vocals. They have toured Europe and have had quite favorable international reviews.


ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Blue Nipple Boy - Bear Comes Naked
Blue Nipple Boy are actually four boys from Bucharest, ready to conquer the music scene with an indie/alternative approach. Although new to it, they are rapidly increasing their fanbase with each single. And how could people not like the smooth rhythms, catchy lyrics and good vibes their songs have? The guys are working on their first album, but till then, I give you their freshly released third single, Bear Comes Naked, which will soon have a video as well.


SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
We See Lights - My Oh My Oh My
Let's see if you can guess what We See Lights sound like before you listen to them. The group hosted an event this month called The Twee Jamboree in their native Edinburgh with live music and home baking, while their new Twee Love Pop EP features a song entitled I Hope You Like The Smiths. I think you get the picture. My Oh My Oh My is by far their finest moment to date - it's an utterly adorable anthem for the lovestruck and has some delightful banjo playing. Check out Bandcamp or iTunes for more of their music.


SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...
Monster Cat - Mannequins
It intertwines like a ball of yarn unraveling as feline claws playfully pounce upon their five-track debut EP Mannequins. The guilty party is collectively known as Monster Cat, who at first mention do not hint at their psycho-folk-rock tendencies. Yet, as you sink deeper into their depravity, it starts to make perfect sense. Mannequins is a bold debut that bares all and holds nothing back, along with all the vulnerability of a gentle kitten. You can download their EP for free via their website during the month of May and pledge your allegiance.


SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
The Pretty Blue Guns - Shed Your Skin
The Pretty Blue Guns are four best friends who love making a noise. With their second album, Shed Your Skin, they abandoned any expectations people might have had and the result is a record that is deeply personal and shows the band's growth. The first single, Shed Your Skin, is an introspective look at life and people around them aptly showing off their self-described sound - a mix of "blues, rock 'n' roll, country, soul - all put together in a little wooden box, doused in gasoline, set alight".


SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Paryumchiakdan - A Night Of Wine
Paryumchiakdan, which translates as "The Infamous Orchestra", was formed three years ago with the vision of making music based on 70s punk-rock with an East Asian pop sound, playing it as if they were a 60s garage rock band. The sound has changed a bit since, but the members still cite GO!GO!7188 and Korean psychedelic musicians of the 70s such as Kim Jung Mi as influences. The band recently self-released their first EP, A Night Of Wine, and the title track has an awesome modern retro sound that invites foot-tapping.


SPAIN: Musikorner
El Estudiante Larry - Mejor Que Yo
Formed in Murcia, a city renowned for its hot indie music scene, El Estudiante Larry is frontman Larry Sandoval and fellow musicians VÌctor, Seka and Porras. After releasing three CD-Rs (available for free download), they collaborated with #Fo - side-project of Klaus & Kinski's ¡lex MartÌnez - to release a split EP, Gulag Split, which can be downloaded for free on Bandcamp. El Estudiante Larry songs can be made from psychedelic beats, a classic indie sound or even a Nashville rock taste, which is the case with Mejor Que Yo, the last but not least track on the EP.


SWEDEN: Swedesplease
Masquer - Happiness
Super lo-fi indie-rock that reminds one of 1/3 Cure, 1/3 Siouxsie Sioux and 1/3 Madonna. Count me in! Masquer is the new side-project of Kiki from Lowood/Idora and Pelle of Idora. The new song is called Happiness and continues to play to the band's strengths - mainly its 80s retro indie-rock sound and the spellbinding vocals of Kiki. Lyrically, its anti-establishment lyrics and chorus of "I'll never conform" would be a perfect addition to the soundtracks of any John Hughes films from that period.


SWITZERLAND: 78s
We Love Machines - Carpentizer (feat. Orlando Menthol)
The two Swiss guys from We Love Machines nailed our attention a year ago. They caused a big stir with Ed Banger-influenced sounds that totally hit it. Now they've released their debut, which is actually full of hits and some surprises. One of them is the Balkan-esque electro tune Carpentizer which features another Swiss electronic genius, Orlando Menthol, and some Swiss-German singing parts.


UNITED STATES: I Guess I'm Floating
Auditorium - Sunday
Auditorium (formerly Field) is the work of Spencer Berger, whose debut album Be Brave was released in January. Berger specializes in 'glam-folk', whereby theatrical, multi-layered vocal harmonies shine throughout the album, telling stories of love, nature, cities and people in a remarkably engaging way. Auditorium is beginning to make waves in LA and beyond - get on board now before your friends are barking at you about it in a few months.


VENEZUELA: M˙sica y M·s
La Abuela Disco - 4.30
La Abuela Disco is an alternative rock, post-grunge and electronic-influenced band formed in Acarigua (Portuguesa) in mid-2009. In late April, they finally released their first studio album Polvo Lunar, a name that fits perfectly with its sound. It can be downloaded for free at the band's website.

Night of Poetry, Performance, Percussion & Organic Electro Punk @ Bakkus on 21. May 2011

The Meatdrum 

presents 

Night of Poetry, Performance, Percussion & Organic Electro Punk.
@ Bakkus 

21. May 2011 from 19:00 - 00:00

The hosts of the night are the music and poetry-performance ensemble Burning Brain and the Wheel of Work. When the Brain burners are not stuck, spinning in the Cycle of Labour, the Wheelers play intensive dinner jazz with ethnic folklore elements, full of bizarre beats.
The spinners under the Wheel are: Einar Melax, Snorri Páll (Baron Samedi) and Thorri Forni Loftski (Thorri Almennings). Needless to say, all of them are legendary weavers and dealers of destiny while coping with the human condition.
The Meatdrums guests are the poets Anton Helgi Jónsson, Gregor Balazt, Einar Ólafsson and Jón Örn Loðmfjörð. Art performers are the notorious Snorri Ásmundsson one of the most prominent contemporary artist in Iceland, the legendary veteran Ólafur Lárusson and the infamous Inferno 5- Performance Service will appear. We may also hear slogan chanting from the Anarchist Quire of Reykjavik.
The caretakers of sound and music will be Gjöll, Inside Bilderberg, Dean Ferrel, Gammur, Arnljótur and as previously mentioned, Burning Brain and the Wheel of Work.
Video screening by Always this Fucking Hope (Steinunn Gunnlaugsdóttir and Katrín Ólafsdóttir).

Free Rock Concert @ Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavik on 14. May 2011

 Rokkhátíð @ Hörpu 

Rock Concert @ Harpa
Concert Hall & Conference Centre
19:30 Doors open of Silfurberg

Program
20:00 Apparat Organ Quartet
20:30 Mammút
21:00 Agent Fresco
21:30 Valdimar
22:00 Hjaltalín
22:30 Jónas Sigurðsson og ritvélar framtíðarinnar
23:00 Lights on the Highway
23:30 HAM

Free Admission 

Sjonni's Friends "Coming home" @ Eurovision 2011

Sjonni's Friends
Palmi is the old and wise one, Hreimur is the innocent and sincere one, Matthias provides the comic relief, Benedikt is the good-looking, cheerful one, Vignir is the silent, mysterious type and Gunnar is the bad boy.
"Coming home"

Song of the 215. Week is "Sunday blues" by Johnny and the Rest

215. Song of the Week is "Sunday blues" by Johnny and the Rest

XIII "Cat" Live @ Faktorý on 13. May 2011

XIII Live @ Faktorý
"Cat"

Legend "Devil in me", "Sister" & "Lust"

Legend is the collaboration of Krummi Björgvinsson (Mínus, Esja) & Halldór Björnsson (Esja). Named after the movie Legend of Ridley Scott.
Two songs to be featured on their debut album released this summer:
"Devil in me"
Devil In Me DEMO by Legend band
"Sister"
Sister by Legend band
"Lust"
Lust DEMO by Legend band

Sin Fang "Two Boys" Video

Sin Fang
"Two Boys", a song from the album "Summer Echoes" (Morr Music)
Video directed by Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir

Sin Fang : Two Boys from morr music

Kimi Records @ Kolaportið Flea Market 14 & 15. May 2011

Kimi Records label Summer Sale

CD's, vinyls, t-shirts & other stuff @ Kolaportið Flea Market downtown Reykjavík
Saturday 14. May & Sunday 15. May 2011 @ 11:00-17:00

HAM Live @ Nordatlantens Brygge, Copenhagen on 28. May 2011

HAM 

Live @ Nordatlantens Brygge

Strandgade 91, Copenhagen

Saturday 28. May 2011 @ 22:00

Admission: 190 KR in advance - 220 KR @ door

Buy ticket @ Politiken Billet

Back to the 90's: The Sugarcubes in 120 Minutes

Magga & Einar Örn of The Sugarcubes interviewed for 120 Minutes
back in 1990

Thx to Jen

Inspired by Iceland @ Aldrei ór ég suður Festival 2011: The Videos - Part 3

Ensimi

Ensimi from Inspired By Iceland
Miri

Miri from Inspired By Iceland
Lazyblood

Lazyblood from Inspired By Iceland
Lúðrasveit TÍ & Mugison

Lúðrasveit TÍ og Mugison from Inspired By Iceland
FM Belfast

FM Belfast from Inspired By Iceland
Klassart

Klassart from Inspired By Iceland
Jónas Sigurðsson

Jonas Sig from Inspired By Iceland
Mr. Silla

Mr Silla from Inspired By Iceland
Grafík

Grafík from Inspired By Iceland