Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.12.2008, Side 14

14 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 18—2008
Christmas buffet
at Hótel Rangá
Suðurlandsvegur, 851 Hella
tel. 487 5700, fax 487 5701, netfang: hotelranga@hotelranga.is
www.hotelranga.is, www.allseasonhotels.is
restaurant
restaurant
restaurant
The Christmas buffet is an Icelandic tradition not to be missed.
Please join us in experiencing delicious traditional family recipes from the Nordic countries.
Friday Christmas Buffet Offer
ISK 12.100 per person in double room

Midweek Dinner Offer
ISK 13.900 per person in double room
Call for reservations 487 5700
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I was expecting a special Sigur Rós show this night.
For one thing, the band had just finished their re-
cent tour, which had been their first one without
their fellows Amiina in years. How would Sigur Rós
do as a four-piece rock outfit?
Second, the band has always underlined their love
for home, which is why the expectations of see-
ing the band here in Iceland are even higher for a
guest to this country. They would definitely have to
fork over some extra efforts to justify my expecta-
tions. To start with good news: Sigur Rós delivered
absolutely.
The evening opened with the band For A Mi-
nor Reflection, which also supported Sigur Rós for
the back end of their tour. I had been totally into
this band when they had their demo out, but my
interest decreased with the release of their new
album which could not keep up the fragility and
beauty of the band's older material. The songs sim-
ply do not spark and this was also the case when
the band performed live this night.
After them, Sigur Rós hit the stage, which
they had transformed it into a dimly lit space that
served as scene for the first song “Svefn-g-englar”.
The mixture of melancholic atmosphere and pow-
erful rock outbursts of this song became a perfect
example for the rest of the concert, which was re-
ally a balancing act between both. The choice of
songs contributed very well to this, too, as there
were poppy hymns like “Gobbledigook” or “Hop-
pipólla” but also the typical epics like “Popplagið”
and “Glósóli”.
The band's excellent musical appearance
was complemented by an elaborate technical
staging. The comfortable stage design of the be-
ginning was more and more transferred into a
surreal space by huge balloons, videos and finally
a curtain of water. This way Sigur Rós took their
audience on a musical as well as a visual journey
into their fantastic “Hopeland”.
The trip ended after two encores where it
had begun one and a half hours before: in Reyk-
javík's handball stadium Laugardalshöll with four
exhausted but lucky people on stage and 3000 of
them in front of it.
A Short Trip to Hopeland
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, COURTESY OF SIGUR RÓS
whO
Sigur Rós
For A Minor Reflection
whERE
Laugardalshöll
whEN
Sunday, November 23
ThE VERdICT
The band's excellent
musical appearance
was complemented by
an elaborate technical
staging.
CONCERT REVIEw By florian züHlKe — pHoto By jÓi KjartanS
To get things straight right at the beginning, this is not an ordinary
Ghostigital album. “Aero” is not even an ordinary album. This time
there are no pumping beats, no shouting, no clashing electronica.
The collaboration of the band with Finnbogi Petursson and Skúli
Sverisson has led to 5 songs, of which the first lasts more than half
an hour, just like the “Sirkus Requiem” they did in memory of the
famous club. This time it is flights that Ghostigital and their allies are
being inspired by. The result is more a collection of cushy sounds
than songs, and best labelled as ambient. No song structures, de-
velopments or vocals. Even if this description sounds a little bland,
“Aero” is a very interesting album. The band wants it to be played in
planes or in phone waiting loops. Thus, the record provides quasi-
functional music: it is meant to be playing in the background and
therefore provides less emotional thrills than environmental conve-
nience. That is why “Aero” runs out of the competition. It is rather a
basic commodity, and this is meant in a very positive way.
Despite his young age, Beatmakin Troopa has quite a moved history
in Iceland's Hip Hop scene. After being part of the legendary Twisted
Minds Crew and having contributed to the solo works of his band-
mates Mystic-One and Rain, he teamed up with his father, sound artist
Jafet Melge, to start the Ambient project Stereo Hypnosis. Beatmakin
Troopa has released two instrumental records on his own, which
make “Search for Peace” already his third solo-release. You can tell
from the songs that this guy is no beginner: the new album sounds
very sophisticated and all of a piece. Again Beatmakin Troopa finds
your ear by mixing laid-back beats with jazzy, catchy lounge tunes.
At the same time this cocktail is way more relaxed and less sinister as
on the EP “Surprise Visit”. If you are interested in some well-tempered
jazzy downbeat background-music, this is your record.
GHoSTIGITAl, FInnBoGI PÉTurSSon
& SkúlI SverrISSon Aero
BeATmAkIn TrooPA
Search for Peace
Cd REVIEwS
reviewed By florian züHlKe
reviewed By florian züHlKe
ThE VERdICT
Music for environmental
convenience
LISTEN
www.myspace.com/
ghostigital
ThE VERdICT
Well-tempered jazzy
Downbeat
LISTEN
www.myspace.com/
beatmakintroopa