Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.08.2016, Síða 30

Andy Svarthol –
“Írena Sírena”
STRAUMUR
TRACK OF THE ISSUE
Listen at gpv.is/t12
Sindri Freyr Steinsson is a jack of many
musical trades. He explores surf punk
with a theremin twist in the band Báru-
járn and is one of the leaders of the
golden-era disco outfit Boogie Trouble.
But his first solo venture is another
step in a completely different direction.
Dubbed ‘Tónlist fyrir kafara’ (“Music
For Divers”), in a nod to the ‘Music For’
series of ambient originator Brian Eno,
the album is an underwater ambient
excursion into the depths of vintage
synth sounds and liquid melodies, con-
ceived as a tribute to Jacques Cousteau.
Some of the record sounds like the
soundtrack to the underwater levels in a
Super Mario Bros. game; at other times
it’s like the vintage synth masters in
Yellow Magic Orchestra. It manages to
be both serene and playful and sounds
wonderful on a pair of headphones.
People often forget that there are two
final frontiers, and the vast depths of
the ocean can be just as mysterious and
exciting as space. Tónlist fyrir kafara’ is
out right now on Möller Records and is
available for listening and purchase on
their Bandcamp page.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
There is no other band like kef LAVÍK,
two twenty-year-old guys from Höfn í
Hornafyrði who refuse to reveal their
names. Their latest EP, ‘Vesæl í Kulda-
num’ (‘Miserable in the Cold’), is an au-
totuned journey into the darkest depths
of the human condition that leaves no
soul uncorrupt. It’s musically more bit-
tersweet and melancholic than their
last EP, but lyrically just as depraved
and full of longing. Have a listen and
feast on their feelings at their Sound-
Cloud page.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
We are starting to get really excited for
the Iceland Airwaves festival, which
is happening on November 2-6. Last
week, the festival announced more art-
ist to its great lineup, which already in-
cludes exciting international acts like
PJ Harvey, Digable Planets, The Sonics,
Julia Holter, Frankie Cosmos, Warpaint
and many more! New additions include
Santigold, who released her 3rd studio
album ‘99¢’ earlier this year; Swedish
artist Mabel; and Margaret Glaspy. The
label Bedroom Community will host a
special 10th anniversary event at Harpa
on November 3rd.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
Iceland born, Oslo-based electronic
musician Björn Gauti Björnsson aka.
B.G. Baarregaard has been active
since late last decade. His latest effort
‘Aalone’ saw the light of day earlier this
summer. It’s a three-song EP where
Björn continues to master his wonder-
ful upbeat disco with great success.
SHARE & LISTEN: gpv.is/str12
Just when we thought Reykjavík’s music
scene had been completely taken over by
hip-hop and ethereal electronica, post-
psychedelic soft-rockers Andy Svarthol
arrive with a playful yet incredibly so-
phisticated debut song called ‘Írena
Sírena’. The vocal harmony of broth-
ers Egill and Bjarki Hreinn Viðarsson
is reminiscent of the soft sound of 60s
bands such as The Zombies and The
Beach Boys, while the music brings
to mind Brit Pop bands of the 90s and
early 2000s.
The video accompanying ‘Írena Síre-
na’ on YouTube is a montage compiled
from footage now in the public domain.
Of note is the collapse of the Tacoma
Narrows Bridge in 1940 and archive
footage from downtown Reykjavík be-
lieved to be from 1929.
Words
DAVÍÐ
ROACH
& ÓLI DÓRI
Photo
ALISA
KALYANOVA
Straumur,
Iceland's
premier indie
music radio
show, airs on
X977, Mon. at
23:00. Daily
music news in
Icelandic at
straum.is
The Faroese visual artist
and singer/songwriter
HEIDRIK just released
the song 'Change of
Frame'. The song is from Heidrik’s
upcoming album 'Funeral' and is ac-
companied by a music video directed
by himself.
Electro duo YOUNG KARIN is back!
They just released a new EP on
Soundcloud featuring four brand new
tracks. Check them out now!
ÁRNI Svavar Johnsen of ELECTRIC
ELEPHANT recently released
'Woods', a track which can be bought
on his Bandcamp site: arnimusic.
bandcamp.com. All profits run to
Geðhjálp (The Icelandic Mental
Health Alliance).
ÓLAFUR ARNALDS’ 'Island Songs'
project is over. Once a week Ólafur
released a song and a video collabo-
ration with local artists around
Iceland, giving his fans something to
look forward to each Monday for the
past seven weeks. The project has
left behind seven beautiful and
unique tracks, listen to them on
www.islandsongs.is.
MUSIC
NEWS
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Excursion To
The Ambient
Underwaterground