The Progressive Folk Rock Brigade
In the seventies, Icelandic progressive folk music was mainly taken care of by two bands, Spilverk þjóðanna (“Plaything of the Nations”) and Þursaflokkurinn (“
Artists Take Their Pick Of Music In 2009
We sorta abhor year-end lists over here at Grapevine HQ. At least when it comes to making them. That has always been a task, and whatever we’ve come up with […]
Looking Back On Another Fine Year Of Music
We sorta abhor year-end lists over here at Grapevine HQ. At least when it comes to making them. That has always been a task, and whatever we’ve come up with […]
Metal And Hardcore In 2009
The year in Metal? In order to kick the ol’ brain cell bundle into gear I got in touch with my friend to compare notes. He assured me that nothing […]
I’m No Expert #2
Heyrðu mig nú (“Hear me now”) is a concert series that the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra organizes as an outreach to younger music lovers. Thankfully, I’m not a teenager
Bloodgroup: Dry Land
While Bloodgroups´ first album was brash, in your face and full of day-glo E numbers, Dry Land sees them relax and breath in a bit more. The chickenfart gurgling synths […]
Morðingjarnir: Flóttinn Mikli
Morðingjarnir have been together for nearly five years, which in punk/hardcore terms means that they’re becoming grizzled old warhorses of the scene. And their third album sees
Why It Pays to Quit Your Day Job
Svavar Knútur, singer of Icelandic folk-outfit Hraun, toured Germany a few weeks ago. It was his second visit this year after touring under the Norðrið moniker this spring with
The Least Obnoxious Xmas Music – Ever
Christmas music is painful at best. Except it is actually Christmas—plus/minus a week. Hearing absolutely horrible songs like the Icelandic version of Wizzard’s I Wish It Could
Pulling Teeth…
So, by some bizarre paradox it’s Friday the 13th and it’s as I’m riding a weird and monstrous cloud of joy. Then, amassed aural forces conspire to destroy me. In [&hellip
Hjaltalín
A bit like visiting a museum with a class full of art students, Terminal is irritating, pretentious and occasionally grating, but mostly just a soothing and smoothly flowing waste
Kimono
Like one of those moody hipsters that hangs in the background and mumbles a lot, Kimono are back with a new album! And the title is bloody awful! Easy Music […]
Stereo Hypnosis
Best enjoyed whilst lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Father-son duo Stereo Hypnosis was formed in 2006 by Jafet Melge (Óskar Thorarensen) and Beatmakin’ Troopa (P
Caterpillarmen
There are some truly evil people out there. You had a man Like Josef Fritzl who kept his daughter and their children hidden from the world in a basement for […]
I’m No Expert #1
Apparently there are no mandatory rock show-like delays at a classical lunch hour concert, so luckily I arrived just in time. Pianist and curator Nína Margrét Grímsdóttir took
Ben Frost
On By The Throat, artwork and music unfolds like a Scandinavian thriller. On Ben Frost’s new album, artwork and music unfolds like a Scandinavian thriller. Headlights claw th
Worm is Green
One of the interesting things about Arkranes (apart from the road out of it) is the variety of music that is coming from there. Such as Worm is Green with […]
The History of Icelandic Rock Music: Part 13
The same core players are involved in three of the best Icelandic bands from the seventies, Stuðmenn, Spilverk þjóðanna and Þursaflokkurinn. All are veritable institutions of
GusGus
The core members of GusGus have ruled the Icelandic club scene for an obscenely long time (15 years?). And the miraculous thing is that they’ve stayed that course without alt
Maria
Listen, if you’re feeling…smooth. Don’t, if you want to think. Singer María Magnúsdóttir’s début is gutsy. A flowing blend of funk, soul, jazz and pop, the