Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.08.2019, Qupperneq 8

Icelanders, especially in ye olden
times, have always lived in close
connection with their natural envi-
ronments. It is then unsurprising
that amongst the roster of Icelandic
superstitions there are a fair many
which involve animals in some way.
Consider the humble common
snipe, for example. You might regard
it as a funny little bird with a long,
comical beak, but Icelandic super-
stition ascribes great power to this
animal—in particular, from which
direction you first hear its song when
spring arrives.
According to an ancient rhyme,
the song of the snipe heard coming
from the east promises wealth; from
the south, happiness; from the west,
illness; and from the north, death.
Pray you don’t hear the snipe’s song
coming from the north (or better yet,
remain ignorant of what the song of
the snipe is in the first place).
The song of the plover carries less
supernatural power, but is none-
theless significant in being able to
predict the weather: a staccato song
predicts rain, while a more trilling
song indicates sunshine is on the way.
Icelandic animal superstitions
aren’t all about birds, though. The
modest wood mouse, for example,
warns people if the winter to come
is going to be a harsh one simply by
making itself seen in one’s home.
The Snipes Are Not
What They Seem
Watch the birds and rodents for life tips
8 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 13— 2019
LÓABORATORIUM
Listen, watch & hear
more tracks:
gpv.is/play
Hrím - Ástarnetið
This first release
from Hrím is deeply
atmospheric, with
soaring vocals and
an edgy build which,
while not quite
delivering on its
promise, is still
darkly satisfying.
Marrying traditional
folk singing with
electronic beats and
synthy goodness is a
tried and tested
recipe. They’re
definitely not to be
missed at Airwaves
this year. JG
Countess Malaise -
Veskið Mitt rework
Countess Malaise is
back with her
particular brand of
relentless, atonal trip
hop, accompanied
by a music video
featuring her
running around a
dystopian, video-
game version of
Iceland. “Veskið Mitt”
is the song you want
to hear when you
finally hit the club
after day drinking in
this ridiculous
weather. JG
Janus Rasmussen
- 14
A lethargic and
chilled house
track from Janus
Rasmussen, one
half of breakout
house-pop-techno
duo Kiasmos. It’s a
slow burner, only
really gaining depth
and momentum in
the second half. But
that doesn’t really
matter—the value is
in the journey. This
track is on part two
of a remix EP series,
slated for release on
August 23rd. Part one
is out now. FR
SiGRÚN -
Exhale Your Song
If Biophilia is your
favourite Björk era,
“Exhale Your Song”
will not disappoint.
Dark, pounding,
haunting and at all
times unexpected,
it’ll either make you
relive your days as
a latex-clad witch
shaman, or look over
your shoulder to see
if one is following
you. HJC
Sideproject -
sandinista release
party / ætli fara
godmode
Born of the thriving
post-dreifing
scene, sideproject
is seemingly a
renewable resource
of surprising,
playful, mischievous
ADHD electronica.
With a powerfully
effervescent thrust
and an eccentric
aesthetic, these
19 tracks barrel
along like a Mad Max
franken-vehicle, zig-
zagging wildly, barely
under control. JR
Bára Gísladóttir -
The Worlds Within
Our Petty Voids
I don’t like it, as
such, but there’s no
denying the genius
of this pathologically
disturbing track.
It sounds like a
micro phone has
been dropped into a
hornets nest which
is then torched
with dragonfire,
but somehow even
more traumatic than
that. I can’t really
imagine a context
where this would
be appropriate
listening, but find
one anyway. It’s
genuinely brilliant. FR
GRAPEVINE PLAYLIST
The must-hear music of the issue
„A
ð l
au
na
ei
nh
ve
rju
m

la
m
bi
ð g
rá
a“
JUST SAYINGS
‘The Lion King’ is now in theatres
and what better way to celebrate the
ultimate savannah revenge story than
with an iconic Icelandic one? Specifi-
cally, that of the Heiðarvíga Saga. In
it, teenager Gestur Þórhallason seeks
revenge on his father’s murderer,
Víga-Styr, who then offers Gestur a
gray lamb as compensation for the
slaying. Of course, Gestur is having
none of it and later kills Viga-Styr,
saying, in the process, “Þar launaði ég
þér lambið gráa,” meaning “I’ve repaid
your grey lamb.” The phrase, “að launa
einhverjum lambið gráa,” or, “to repay
someone with the grey lamb,” has
since become the best way to express
the simple sentiment: payback is a
bitch. HJC
ICELANDIC
SUPERSTITIONS
Words:
Andie Fontaine

Photo:
Wikimedia
Commons
First
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These little creeps might be telling you the future