Reykjavík Grapevine - 09.09.2011, Blaðsíða 25

25
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 14 — 2011 Some people have been claiming that the new GusGus lacks in
'lastability'. Others disagree. Do you have an opinion?
Professionals, At The Top Of Their Game
GusGus conquer NASA for the nth time!
Music | Live
While their fifteen years of experi-
ence explain the on-stage swagger,
it's remarkable to witness the influ-
ence GusGus have in the Icelandic
club scene.
GusGus recently released a kind-of
manifesto where they urged for con-
certs in Iceland to start earlier. This de-
cision was partly so the concerts would
cut less into the clublife and partly to
allow the older section of the Icelandic
music scenes to be done at a reason-
able hour so they can get home to free
the babysitter. But despite starting at
the ungodly hour (for Iceland) of 10 PM,
the house was filled to the rafters with
party hungry fans. If anyone can usher
in a change to the Icelandic concert
landscape, it would be GusGus.
The show was infused with the usu-
al potpourri of sportswear cologne and
hipster BO. GusGus attracts a bizarrely
diverse fanbase on an average night.
But while the downtown rats were
in attendance and there was a good
twenty-year age spread, the 20–25 year
old suburban fist-pumpers dominated
the scene. I had to navigate the crowd
carefully to avoid stray kids, who blind-
ed by their ray bans in a darkened club,
danced like broken homing missiles
(although I started thinking they may
have been on to something once the
flood lights started lasering through my
retinas).
GusGus sauntered on to the stage
as the usual happy shambles of ques-
tionable fashion choices—their three
singers being leaner, hairier and deci-
sively more bondage-friendly this time
around. Urður was imposing and glori-
ous as always, and looked, in her see-
through dress and garters, like she was
there to accept the award for ‘queen of
all fag hags’ (which I'd award her if it
wasn't for our recent Eurovision entry
Hera Björk). Högni came on in a flow-
ing overcoat and a mohawk stovepipe
hat, midway through popping his shirt
off to reveal a matching mesh shirt and
bondage straps. Daníel swam around in
a scarf like a drama major in a K-hole.
I was a little worried that Urður's
singing wouldn't translate to the stage,
as I've seen some recent live footage
that wasn’t too promising. But aside
from her mic level being set too low,
she hit the notes and sang from her
heart, gut and other organs. So this
must have been down to poor quality of
the YouTube footage I saw. And there's
no point in talking about Högni or
Daníel Ágúst—they're among the best
pop singers we have in Iceland.
I do miss seeing the core of the
band, the producers Biggi Veira and
Stephan Stephensen hidden being a
stack of old synths like in the old days,
but an electronic band needs less
equipment these days, and the leaner
approach is par for the course.
I will say that there are only four
bands in Iceland that have mastered
the art of drama in popular music. Only
four bands that have properly gotten to
grips with the swells, the tension, the
calmando and crescendo. They are
Sigur Rós, HAM, Páll Óskar and Gus-
Gus. Each from a different genre, each
with their own way of approaching it,
but all know how to whip up a squall of
heroic melodrama in the teenage heart.
GusGus are professionals at the top
of their game. Simple as that. It may
not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you
have even the mildest appreciation for
electronic music you should be able to
appreciate the dynamics of their live
performances.
On a side note, I thought of some-
thing while listening to ‘Deep Inside.’
Can I please put in an order for a thrash
metal cover of this song? On the off
chance that there are any metalheads
reading this, would you pretty please
make this happen? Stand in the way of
my Slayertronica no longer. I need to
hear this.
RAGNAR EGILSSON
ALÍSA KALYANOVA
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