Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.11.2010, Page 17

Music | CD Reviews
I highly recommend that you do not
leave this island without the debut
album from local twelve-piece band
Útidúr stowed away in your luggage.
It’s one of those little gems that turns
up out of nowhere and charms its way
into your iTunes favourites in less time
than it takes to load up your Mac.
The album flows extremely well from
track to track, and skilfully creates
a coherent atmosphere throughout
that’s laden with Mexican Mariachi
flair and darkly mischievous lyrics. It’s
somewhat reminiscent of Beirut and at
certain moments, Tindersticks. Well,
Tindersticks with bottle of tequila and
a Colt 45 that is.
This is an album that you can turn this
on and enjoy right through, but forced
to choose a favourite, it would be the
quirky melody and harmonies on ‘The
glow / retreat’.
This album stands out from the sea of
Icelandic post-rock guitars and brood-
ing soundscapes to create something
not only distinctive, but distinctively
good too.
- EIMEAR FITzGERALd
Útidúr
This mess we’ve made
utidur
Icelandic sass with an enjoyably
dirty twist
S.H. Draumur were a large part of the
Icelandic underground music scene of
the ‘80s, but their legacy was eventu-
ally lost to the wastes of rock history
for whatever reason. And there they
stayed until a stirring comeback at
this year’s Iceland Airwaves, and the
release of ‘Goð +’, a two CD re-issue of
their 1988 album, packaged with heaps
of goodies, including outtakes, demos
and live shows.
Thankfully. ‘Goð’ is definitely a record
that deserves a re-appreciation. With
leanings to The Cult, The Minutemen
and Hüsker Dü, ‘Goð’ rattles along
with a restless vigour. The key to this
is the relationship between Dr Gunni’s
bass and Birgir Baldursson’s drums.
Together they produce a punchy sound
akin to a brick through a window. This
makes you forgive the albums little
flaws, such as the fact that Dr Gunni
can’t quite reach the high notes, or the
accordion in ‘Engin ævintýri’. The sec-
ond CD contains earlier, rawer songs
as they tried to be like Joy Division
(along with everyone else at the time)
before finding their own sound.
It says a lot that ‘Goð+’ sounds a lot
better than most of the newer trendy
stuff being released by today’s callow
youth.
- BOB CLUNESS
S.H. draumur
Goð +
facebook.com/shdraumur
Like finding out your uncle was in a
REALLY cool rock band.
Samúel Jón Samúelsson Big Band have
been together on and off for a decade
now, forming in 2000 for a series of live
performances in Reykjavík. This latest
offering from the group, their third
album, is just under an hour of good,
solid funk. For those not accustomed
to its ways, funk can sometimes be a
bit same-same, however SJS Big Band
manages to avoid this by having a
strong progression in their music and
regular solos that spice things up. The
album moves along at a groovy pace,
making me wish that real hipsters still
actually existed. For those fans of funk,
or even just folks that like to dance,
‘Helvítis Fokking Funk’ is a good
choice to funk up your life.
- BERGRÚN ANNA
HALLSTEINSdóTTIR
Samúel jón Samúelsson
Big Band
Helvítis Fokking Funk
samminammi
SJS Big Band funkifies Reykjavík
The debut album by Balkan-style
band Orphic Oxtra is a twisting,
turning, flying all over the place kind
of experience. The music swirls and
swells down seemingly farcical paths
and at times has the effect of making
you want to do everything in double
time when you listen to it—or, better
yet, embark on crazy adventures in
rundown vehicles. Very fun. The group
consists of fourteen members and
that play wide range of instruments:
everything from horns to fiddles to ac-
cordions to drums. They have worked
together to create an album which is
both different and listenable, which
not exactly an easy task. This is a good
strong album, and a much-needed
break from the radio friendly rubbish
or too-arty-to-comprehend music fill-
ing our ears recently.
- BERGRÚN ANNA
HALLSTEINSdóTTIR
Orphic Oxtra
Orphic Oxtra
orphicoxtra
Crazy Balkan fun
17
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 17 — 2010
“We tried this place
purely on the back
of its excellent
review on
Tripadvisor
and weren’t
disappointed. “ CAFE HAITI by the Old Harbour
Geirsgata 7b, 101 Reykjavík
tel: 661 5621 / 588 8484
Opening hours: 8.00 – 23.00
Quality coffee roasted on the premises
One of Reykjavik’s finest, the chic 1919 Restaurant
features top international and neo-Nordic cuisine.
The trendy 1919 Lounge provides a variety of
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1919
R E STAU R A N T
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QUALITY TIME IN THE
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Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel, Pósthússtræti 2, 101 Reykjavík, Tel: 599 1000
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