Börn are a band that I have never seen before but I am definitely looking forward to checking out. They have an excellent record “s/t” available on bandcamp. They get described with words such as loud, dark and gloomy and associated with genres like post-punk and death-rock. So you know what you’re getting, and this […]
Ólafur Arnalds has provided many Airwaves highlights for me over the years, and also some stunning shows in London too. Plus, I always interview him in years which end in an even number! So it was a bit of shock to be scanning the line-up for Iceland Airwaves 2014 and to realise that his name […]
After years of musical flirting, Canada and Iceland finally get into bed together. And that band is EMBASSYLIGHTS. I am really excited about this feature. For a start, there has always been a strong Canadian contingent at Iceland Airwaves – the annual ‘Canadian Blast’ at Hresso became a pretty essential part of the festival. But […]
I really didn't know much about Mafama before spending some quality time with their music after they were added to the line-up of Iceland Airwaves 2014. They are a quirky blend of many different influences. They have also made a staggeringly odd and pretty disturbing (in a good way, I think) video for their song […]
Sindri Eldon is described on the Airwaves site as a "hellish elemental fireball taken human form". He was already very high on my wish list for pre-Airwaves interviews this year, I've been enjoying his shows and the music on bandcamp increasingly over the last few years, but that sealed it! I'm pretty sure that this […]
There are two things to celebrate today. Firstly, you can now legally call your Icelandic baby Mark, the greatest of all names. Secondly, not content with being the continent's best football team (FACT), exactly three weeks from now Iceland will throw the world's best music festival, Iceland Airwaves 2014. I have a lot to do […]
We all love Sóley don't we? That wonderful, haunting, enchanting and utterly engaging debut album, "We Sink", from 3 years ago (3 years already!) seemed to be universally loved and YOU dear iceblahers (?) voted it as the best record of 2011. All the shows at Airwaves have been very well attended indeed. But, […]
Grísalappalísa were the first band I saw at Iceland Airwaves 2013. I'd heard and fallen in love with their first record, the seven track 'Ali', and I knew that this was a rare sighting of some former members of the legendary Jakobínarína (seriously, look them up if you don't know them already). The live show, […]
I love Prins Póló (or is it PrinsPóló? Read on to find out) so I'm pretty happy that they have just released a wonderful new record called 'Sorrí'. The herd, led by Svavar Eysteinsson, formerly of Rúnk and Skakkamanage, are in fine form as always. The album includes asome songs that are a little familiar already, […]