DURAN DURAN
While two young women standing in front of me scream in each other’s ear as opening band The Leaves, who present themselves as a very serious Coldplay, meander through their [&he
Tómas R. EinarssonLet Jazz be Bestoved on the Huts
Tómas R. Einarsson’s new CD draws its inspiration from W.H. Auden’s poetry, and draws its name from “Journey to Iceland.” Einarsson has effectively captured the euphoric a
Hölt Hóra
RE-Viewed. For any complaints you may have about a band named Limping Whore (Hölt Hóra), at least they’re cheap. Their shows, which are often gutty, sweaty and loud, are always
TVEIR FISKAR
And finally, the exquisite Tveir fiskar, the expensive one, this week, where everybody seemed to be speaking French. Great fish. Great chocolate soufflé. Sophisticated waiters, ye
Never Enough Time
The flight over was a short but harrowing experience – 35 minutes after taking off from Reykjavík, we made our descent to Ísafjörður’s airport. If you choose to travel
Brylli Næstumþví Maðurinn
When a CD with a supple-buttocked naked man leaping in front of a mountain appears on your desk, no explanations, just a price, you don’t exactly put it in your […]
Two-Person Play “How Do You Like Iceland?”
If you’ve been in Iceland for more than 24 hours, someone probably has, by now, already asked you, “How do you like Iceland?” The question itself has become so clichéd [&hel
REYKJAVÍK BAGEL COMPANY
Now, then. To finish the reviews, quite shortly: There was the bagel place. It does serve fine bagels, in a bagel-like environment, the standard one – the bagel industry seems [&
ANTONY
One of the radio hosts expressed his gratitude to the musician Antony for visiting this obscure island on his way to stardom. After the concert this week I have to […]
Covões, Portugal
The village of Covões lies in the Gandara region of Portugal, near the old university city of Coimbra. Its architecture and design are typical of other villages in the region [&he
IT BEGINS WITH A RESIGNATION:
The dining dead. It’s a phrase I heard in a movie. A young man looked at his girlfriend as they were having dinner in a fancy restaurant and remarked shocked […]
Assorted ArtistsAcoustic Iceland
A fantastically badly-designed and badly-marketed CD, this 20-song anthology actually does contain 20 essential tracks. And the packaging, when you get around the sheer commercial
Schpilkas So Long Sonja
A modest effort from an extremely popular local Klezmer band, So Long Sonja is a good keepsake, but not a good album. The problem is that the songs rarely leave […]
KimonoArctic Death Ship
Reykjavík has been waiting for this sophomore release from Canadian-Icelandic rockers and producers Kímono. An early release from the record, “Aftermath,” was promising, with
RASS
When punk goes right, explaining it is a hell of a thing. Rass (ass) made up of a group of thirty-something local rockers, have produced the best punk album I’ve […]
Soft Colours with Bruising:
“They asked me in Stykkishólmur if I was getting good motivation from the mountains,” Þórdís Aðalsteinsdóttir tells me, as we stand before a softly menacing painting of a
The Raven Auteur Director. On film, politics and testicles.
This is how Icelandic filmmaker Hrafn Gunnlaugsson described the opening scene of what will probably be his last film, one that remains entirely in his head, and one that bears [&h
Comfort: The Reason You See Scandinavians at Hotel Frón
What is it that the traveller really needs? Spending a few nights in places such as in a good old cosy tent in Þorsmörk after 20 kilometre hike from Skógar, […]
DAVÍÐ SMÁRI: YOU DO SOMETHING TO ME
What do you do when you come in second on Icelandic Idol: you cover every great pop singer’s most cherished song. Davíð Smári takes the Edge off of U2’s One, […]
Bubbi gets help from Wonder Barði
BUBBI: PARADÍS AND ÁST. INSIDE ICELAND, BUBBI MORTHENS IS THE MOST CELEBRATED AND FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL SONGWRITER AND SINGER MAKING ALBUMS TODAY. HE IS ALSO THE BIGGEST TARGET,