Mixtapes, Mourning & Where It All Began
- By : Iceblah
- Category : Icelandic Music
- Comments : 2
You remember mixtapes. Of course you do. They just don't exist anymore, you can just go on to itunes or similar and whack together a playlist, and a CD is ready to go 5 minutes later. It's a quick process, I have more ours in my day as a result – but somehow it ain't nearly so rewarding, nor is it such a good gift. A 90 minute mixtape took, well, at least 90 minutes to make. That's without counting the times you forget to press stop at the right moment, or indeed the time taken to beautifully spell out the full tracklisting. I used to make loads, mainly for myself I have to admit – a best of each year (one or two volumes depending on the year), compilations for holidays back in the day when I couldn't carry 14,000 songs around in my pocket. My best work, which I still have is a compilation entitled "Great Song, Shit Album" – remember The Family Stand? Nope, me neither – but I bet "Ghetto Heaven" really is great.
And why am I babbling on about all this? Well, the other day I came across a mixtape that someone (you know who you are…) sent me back in about 1988 I guess – it's called "The Best Of Icelandic Music", the writing is alternate red and blue ink, and it goes something like this…
Sykurmolarnir – Ammæli
Sykurmolarnir – Cat
Greifarnir – Hradlestin
Nÿdonsk – Nostradamus
Sykurmolarnir – Shoot Him
Risædlan – Hope
Risædlan – Kindness And Love
Síðan Skein Sól – Kartoflur
Síðan Skein Sól – Suzie Q
Sykurmolarnir – Cold Sweat
Risædlan – Peace Keys
Sykurmolarnir – Blue Eyed Pop
Risædlan – Boys Will Be Boys
Nÿdonsk – Holmfridu Juliusdottir
Sykurmolarnir – Hey
Risædlan – Ivar Bongo
Síðan Skein Sól – Eg Verd Ad Fá
Nÿdonsk – Allt
Nÿdonsk – Vinurrin
Risædlan – What Are You Up To
Risædlan – S.O.M.
Síðan Skein Sól – Taktu Mig Med
Fascinating eh? This is what the web is made for. I was already aware of, and a fan of, The Sugarcubes (or Sykurmolarnir as they were known back then) but I think that this was the first time I was aware of there being anything else – and look where that realisation has landed me! And I know, I haven't got all the right Icelandic characters in all the right places, but not bad for an English keyboard – and not all of these bands or songs even respond to a google search. I did my best. Two more things, 1) I actually bought a copy of Risædlan's greatest hits CD in Reykjavik last year and 2) Scary thought this, where on earth would I start now if somebody asked me for a best of Icelandic Music compilation??? I'll leave that for another day. Right, I'm off to dig out my one remaining cassette player and see how these things sound now… x
p.s. if anyone happens to read this who knows where these bands are now, what happened to them – do leave a comment. Apart from The Sugarcubes, I know about those guys.
2 Comments
Hahaha ,has it been twenty years already???
I´m glad you bought Risaeðlan. Fantastic group and Runk always reminded me a little of them, I´m not sure what they are up to now, except Magga Stína now works at the city library and does some music, last time with her brother Sölvi Blöndal from Quarahsi, and Magga Örnólfs writes soundtracks…I think. Nýdönsk is still playing, and Daniel the singer is doing a music protject called Esja with Krummi from Mínus,
Greifarnir had a brief comback last year, but the singer Felix had a long and successful stint as a children show host in a show called Felix and Gunni.
He´s also the cohost in a music quis show called popppunktur, with dr.Gunni, who I´m sure you´ve heard of,(different Gunni though….)
Síðan skein sól was still playing last time I knew…Am a bit embarrased about that part, And very happy that Risaeðlan and Sykurmolarnir took a bigger part of the tape!!!But Í did like them then, and they were very popular…
Did you listen to it again?? Do tell!
Not to mention his performance in the wonderful Sódóma Reykjavík, which I remember talking you into buying and you being very evasive when asked about it later!