Guðmundur Steinn Gunnarsson: Horpma
The latest composition from S.L.Á.T.U.R member Guðmundur Steinn Gunnarsson is a strange, almost impenetrable beast with avant-garde plasma running through its veins. Everything a
Jóhann Jóhannsson: The Miners’ Hymns
While Jóhann Jóhannsson’s status as a musician and producer in Iceland is assured, his soundtrack albums in the past, while sounding “nice”, suffered from a lack of depth a
TRACK OF THE ISSUE – OJBA RASTA: JOLLY GOOD
Summer has finally threatened to show itself, somewhat, and if you like reggae, Ojba Rasta’s new single Jolly Good is the perfect track to put on for a nice garden […]
“IT’S MY FESTIVAL AND I’LL BOOK WHO I WANT!”
It’s a story that has passed into Icelandic music legend. Of how a young drummer named Stefán ‘Stebbi’ Magnússon, having moved to the Eastfjords village of Neskaupstaður,
AURAL ECSTASY ATTACK
A lot of bitching and griping has gone on in the metal and hardcore scene as of late regarding the inclusion of For a Minor Reflection on tonight’s bill, and […]
It Takes Five To Tango. Ehrm
Most people’s idea of tango music evokes a night-time display of poise and passion in a small cafe in the backstreets of Buenos Aires. But what you may not know […]
Stealing Mountains
For three months, Mike Lindsey has lived alone in a cottage in northeast Iceland. Having gained some notoriety as a founding member of British alt-folk gang Tunng, he decided last
Grapevine Grassroots #29
Singing, dancing, poetry, instrumental music, movies, paintings…come see all or some of the above at the 29th Grapevine Grassroots. While performance art will be the main theme o
The Noise Revival Orchestra: Songs of Forgiveness EP
The Noise Revival Orchestra seem to have moved away from their experimental orchestral work in the EP ‘Songs Of Forgiveness’. Perhaps, in an attempt to gain a more mainstream f
A Dream Realised By Accident
Afrocubism is a project that began as a dream thirteen years ago. Nick Gold’s idea was to fuse the sounds of Malian and Cuban music for an album. But along […]
FM Belfast: Don´t Want To Sleep
The album lead-in is a raging ‘90s keyboard loop with promises of a record best experienced while wearing overalls and watching some ebony mercenary on ‘Top of the Pops’ grin
TRACK OF THE ISSUE – THE DANDELION SEEDS: LOVE AND SWEET DREAMS
Man, if there’s one band out there that’s getting us somewhat excited about Icelandic rock again, it’s the goddamn Dandelion Seeds. Those psych-rockin’ bastards have been l
Are Icelanders Americanized? Really?
With their propensity for obesity and economic mismanagement, one could be forgiven for thinking of the Icelanders as little Americans. Conventional wisdom would indeed suggest thi
Dead Skeletons: Dead Magick I & II
If Two Step Horror is all about sex/David Lynch, then Dead Skeletons are all death/Jim Jarmusch. The creation of Henrik ‘Singapore Sling’ Björnsson and Jón Sæmundur (aka art
Two Step Horror: Living Room Music
It’s been a busy time recently over at the local leather-clad sex ‘n’ death collective, commonly known as Vebeth. The last month has seen two releases from artists within the
Tryggvi Hübner: 2.0
Tryggvi Hübner is an accomplished guitar player. He’s tactful, tasteful and many other positive adjectives that end in -ful. And he’s skilled as a motherfucker. But here’s t
The Foreigner’s Prerogative
So who the frak is Jóhann Jóhannsson? He’s an accomplished Icelandic musician, a self-taught composer with seven solo albums and seven movie soundtracks under his belt, as well
Puzzle Muteson
Icelandic record label Bedroom Community has taken UK artist Puzzle Muteson under its wing and released his debut, ‘En Garde’. This young musician has composed ten song
Gig Long, Party Hard!
Another day, another slice of grim apocalyptic action that is life in Iceland. While Grímsvötn’s eruption took a firm grip of the country by the balls and the airport was [&hel
Arabian Horse
The year 2010 was one of transition, with too many bands shuffling around indecisively. This year seems it will be more of the same, with the off-the-mainstream music still finding
TRACK OF ISSUE – GUSGUS ARABIAN: HORSE SAMPLER
It appears the verdict is in: with ‘Arabian Horse’, beloved electro legends GusGus have crafted a masterpiece of a record, with mesmerising tunes, stomping rhythms and some hyp