Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.06.2010, Side 39

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The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 07 — 2010
Step into
the Viking Age
Experience Viking-Age Reykja­vík a­t the
new Settlement Exhibition. The focus of the
exhibition is a­n exca­va­ted longhouse site which
da­tes from the 10th century ad. It includes
relics of huma­n ha­bita­tion from a­bout 871, the
oldest such site found in Icela­nd.

Multimedia­ techniques bring Reykja­vík’s
pa­st to life, providing visitors with insights
into how people lived in the Viking Age, a­nd
wha­t the Reykja­vík environment looked like
to the first settlers.
The exhibition a­nd
museum shop a­re open
da­ily 10–17
Aða­lstræti 16
101 Reykja­vík / Icela­nd
Phone +(354) 411 6370
www.reykja­vikmuseum.is
Music | Album Reviews
daníel Bjarnason
Processions
danielbjarnason
Classical Apocalypse anyone?
It would be nigh on impossible to
describe the complexities of Daníel
Bjarnason´s debut album in 150 words,
but suffice it to say it´s pretty powerful
stuff. Processions may be a classical
composition, but there also seems to
be some rock and electronica DNA
running through its sinews. From the
layered tracks and dubbing on Bow to
String to the use of rock’s quiet, Loud,
quiet, LOUD! song structure that is
prevalent throughout the album.
The manifesto of Processions is
that of restless danger. The brutal
cello attacks of the first section,
Sorrow Conquers Happiness, evoke
the impression of being chased by
unknown creatures of the night (and
alas being caught). Red-Handed, with
its thundering rhythm and stabbing
piano percussion, could easily portray
the bloody climax of a horror movie,
while Skelja surveys the aftermath of
said climax.
Thats not to say that this album is
nasty and vicious. The quiet sections
of the compositions are contemplative.
But in going straight for the jugular,
Daníel has shown more power and
daring than what you expect to see
from more popular genres of music.
- BOB CLUNESS
Wormlust
Seven Paths
Download demo from
www.wormlust.com
Get this demo and watch this space.
Something enigmatically wicked is
burrowing to the surface here
Everybody and their mother are talking
about atmospheric black metal these
days. Sure enough, there's a tidal wave
of bands trying to get their piece of
the pie, by throwing in some ambient
keyboard noises and dragging their
otherwise uneventful songs out.
WORMLUST is Hafsteinn Lyngdal's
latest outburst within the realm of
extreme music. It's is also a project
he seems to be most involved in and
content with these days. And it shows
on Seven Paths. Lyngdal effortlessly
knits together a soundscape, a
journey if you will, that has an
engaging beginning, and a natural
and fulfilling conclusion. Its haunting
and atmospheric qualities jump at you
at first and hook in you but repeated
listens will reveal successful layering
that makes this such a powerful piece.
Seven Paths is remarkably cohesive
considering its progressive nature.
Presenting it as one track connected
by fluent transitions was a wise
decision indeed. Sporadic it’s not.
- BIRKIR FJALAR vIðARSSON
A lot of the acoustic based releases
making the rounds this year seem to be
following the same tired 60s and 70s
template of Neil Young/Nick Drake/Van
Morrison..
At least The Flaming Banshees are
trying a something different with their
Satan is a Farmer EP, by ransacking
80s new wave and psych rock for its
influences instead. Don’t believe me?
Then you’ll understand when you
listen to tracks such as 1000 Days
of Sleep (Echo & the Bunnymen)
Morning Makeup (REM) or If You
Love Somebody (err... the Travelling
Wilburys?).
The EP also puts a lot more effort
into the production by adding transient
sounds (songbirds, clinking bottles, and
rattling keys) that help to flesh out the
atmospherics, making it sound more
sparkly and retro-fresh than a lot of
other things.
- BOB CLUNESS
The Flaming Banshees
Satan is a Farmer
theflamingbanshees
Much cooler influences than the
other acoustic albums out there