Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.01.2007, Side 35

REYKJAVÍK_GRAPEVINE_ISSUE 01_007_REVIEWS/MUSIC/CDS_3
Pétur Ben is best known for being the accompanying gui-
tarist to Mugison. On his first solo album, he steps out of
Mugison’s shadow with his own songs and lyrics. It is a slow,
introspective album for the most parts – citing Dylan, Neil
Young and Radiohead as influences. It is at always well done
but never exceptional – the opening track Look in the Fire
is excellent and so is the last one, Make Way for the Flood.
Overall, this is a good album, certainly a great debut, but it
never manages to reach great heights. Pétur has proven he´s
a great songwriter and guitar player. If he continues on this
track, the next album will be great. Wine For My Weakness
is not quite there yet.
January is a fucking grim month. After that, we get the even
grimmer February. And after that, it does not really get any
better for a long time. I am dreading it already. Dýrðin arrive
to the rescue with the most sugarcoated summer feeling in-
die rock I have heard since I do not know when. It is almost
like stepping into a time machine, back to the glory years of
indie pop. Before the Strokes destroyed it all. Dýrðin has a
long history, originally formed in 1994 but lay dormant until
2002. Dýrðin’s members were active in various underground
groups in the last century (Vonbrigði, Risaeðlan, Bellatrix).
11 songs that for the most part all follow the same formula,
but fortunately, it is a great formula. Bubbly-indie-pop that
makes you want to drink cheap white wine and dance. This
is what is needed in January.
Dýrðin
Dýrðin
Pétur Ben
Wine For My Weakness
All reviews by Páll Hilmarsson
Future Future were born from the metalcore band Snafu
who had a sizeable following and influence in Icelandic un-
derground rock a few years back. Future Future ventures
into traditional rock with its first release. It is polished and
well played, the recording and mixing is good, but there is
something missing to make it stand out. It’s never bad but
never great either. At times, as in the track Code Civil or the
7 minute long Passion Of Penguins, the band sounds as if
this kind of rock really is their niche, but there are moments
when one wonders if they would be better off exploring
other roads.
Gavin Portland released two short EPs in 2006, which gave
clear hints to what one could expect from their first album.
So, it was not really a surprise to learn that Gavin Portland re-
leased the best album of 2006. Period. Hardcore influenced
indie rock that sounds like no other Icelandic band. It is mu-
sic that sounds international, as if Gavin Portland could hold
their own anywhere in the world and against anybody. It is
music that is well thought out and performed with passion.
It is music that catches you on the first listen but every listen
adds something new. It is in short: fucking great. Its only
shortcoming is that it is too short. The best thing to happen
to Icelandic rock in a long time.
5ta herdeildin make playful folk-punk with a big dash of
country. Articulate and funny Icelandic lyrics accompany the
songs, which are well thought out and performed with a
skill that can only be acquired by someone who truly enjoys
what he is doing. It is the group’s third album, 14 tracks run-
ning for a whole hour. There are not many Icelandic bands
that venture into this kind of folk-rock for some reason. 5ta
herdeildin do it well. It is not very original music but it is
never pretentious or boring. A highly enjoyable album. The
lyrics are printed in Icelandic and Russian – the Russian label
Manchester releases the album. On their website you can
listen to three tracks but you are best off buying it. You will
not be disappointed (unless you actually prefer Basshunter
to Neil Young).
Back in 2001, XXX Rottweilerhundar changed (or maybe cre-
ated) Icelandic rap. One of their members, Bent, is now back
with a solo album. Internationally, rap is for the most part in
a sorry state. Endless rhymes about bitches and guns, Esca-
lades and expensive champagne. Bent’s album is free of this.
He rhymes about his personal life (alcoholism) and the society
(capitalistic injustice apparent in the number of Escalades on
Reykjavík streets). The beats flow nicely and Bent is a great
rapper. It is an album that brings hope to Icelandic hip-hop
and rap, a well-crafted CD that is highly enjoyable. Intelligent
and good rap. I am into that and so should you be.
Bent
Rottweilerhundur
5ta herdeildin
Skipið siglir
Gavin Portland
Views of Distant Towns
Future Future
Insight
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