Reykjavík Grapevine - 16.08.2013, Qupperneq 31

A Gourmet Experience
- Steaks and Style at Argentina Steakhouse
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Tel: 551 9555
argentina.is
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inspects every single timepiece before it leaves our workshop.
31
kimono
Aquarium EP
2013
www.kimono.is
A tease of a song
Normally I wouldn't take part in what
they call in the trade an InstaReview,
where you write a review based on
a single listen of an album or song.
Ideas and aesthetic judgments on a
record can vary wildly after repeated
listening. Songs tend to open up and
reveal their hidden treasures to those
who persevere and exhibit patience.
Or the record can turn out to be a
steaming pile of cack and you curse
the stars for putting yourself through
that torture
With this in mind, I'm going to play
'Aquarium,' the latest release from
kimono for the first time and type
down my immediate thoughts as it
plays.
A single track spanning 20-min-
utes, ‘Aquarium’ starts off with a
relaxed, simple metronomic rhythm
of rimshot and ride cymbal. The gui-
tars of Gylfi and Alison barely punc-
ture the air as the arpeggio sounds
and notes they gently pluck wash and
fold over each other.
kimono are taking their time. It
has the feeling of a warm Sunday
evening spent outside with the equip-
ment playing in the open air, no one
around, the only audience a lower-
ing sun and some birds. Everything
barely ebbs and flows in the energy
level department. It's not until over
five minutes in that the drums change
rhythm ever so subtly that you don't
notice it at first.
Halfway into 'Aquarium', there's
a change in mood and energy, as the
drum style changes and the guitar
take on a more direct approach. It’s
still fragile in its structure, but we’re
seeing formations of simple riffs and
note lines appear for the first time.
As we approach the last act of
the track, things start taking on what
we would call the “classic” kimono
sound. Heavy tom-action coupled
with guitar harmonics and gentle riff-
ing. But despite the raising of energy
levels, as we reach the end of the
song kimono refrain from going into
climax mode, with everything going
hell for leather. Rather, they sustain
the song ‘til it feels like it's going to
burst, before gently bringing every-
thing back down to calm peace, fin-
ish. Fade out. There's no manly rock
payoff or release of tension in the old-
fashioned sense. Tantric prog rock, in
other words.
On initial listening, 'Aquarium,' is
definitely a tease of a song. Its come
hither style brings you in and builds
up expectations, but doesn't let you
have what you want. Instead it dic-
tates your level of aural enjoyment on
its own terms, preferring not to waste
its life-force on someone who might
not appreciate it.
Some people would pay good
money for a relationship like that.
- Bob Cluness
Music
A
lb
um
Review
s
Every once in a while we like to in-
dulge in a bit of shameless self-pro-
motion and we are doing so now for
a very good reason, so bear with us.
On July 21 last year, we launched
straum.is, on which we have since
published 400 stories documenting
the music scene and hopefully help-
ing people discover a new favourite
band or two. This summer, the site
branched out into the English lan-
guage column that you’re reading
right now in this fine publication and
so we would like you, dear reader,
to come to our first birthday party.
It’ll be held at Harlem on August
22, when we turn exactly 1 year, 1
month, and 1 day old. Some of our
favourite local artists will be playing
and yours truly will be DJing. The
party starts at 21:00 on that Thurs-
day and there will be some free beer
for those who show up early. So join
us in a celebration of music and life!
Last year also marked the birth
of Iceland’s only contemporary
pure disco band, Boogie Trouble.
The band that’s prompted lots of
ass shaking at their concerts this
year are now going on a hiatus be-
cause some of their members are
seeking higher education across the
Atlantic. So they will be throwing a
goodbye concert on August 17 at
Gamli Gaukurinn. Supporting them
is a roster of bands with at least one
thing in common: Bjór, Babies and
Bárujárn. Yes, they all start with the
letter “B.” Given the b-theme, peo-
ple whose name start with a “B” will
get a discount on the entrance fee,
but the rest of the alphabet should
certainly show up as well.
Finally, you should note that
Markús & The Diversion Session
released a new EP in Lucky Records
on August 15 and the first single
from it, “Decent Times,” is way
decent. Reminiscent of Pavement,
with some hazy guitar strumming
and Markús’ voice floating effort-
lessly atop in a style cross between
Stephen Malkmus and Beck in his
quieter moments, it’s catchy ‘90s lo-
fi slacker rock at its best. And we are
immensely digging the post-chorus
mini keyboard solos courtesy of
Steini Teaque (of Moses Hightower
fame). If we ever get some sun in the
final stretch of summer, this would
be the perfect song to loaf around to
in a public park.
Straum.is has been active
since last summer, with writers
Óli Dóri and Davíð Roach docu-
menting the local music scene
and helping people discover
the best new music. It is associ-
ated with the radio show Strau-
mur on X977, which airs every
Monday evening at 23:00.
By Óli Dóri and Davíð Roach Gunnarsson
It’s A Celebration!