Reykjavík Grapevine - 08.11.2019, Síða 8

Now that October is behind us, and the
rainy season is supposed to be over, it’s
finally time to take care of the leaves
in your backyard. As mundane as this
domestic activity seems, beware: there
are superstitions lurking in the grass.
Watch the bugs
As you rake, you can’t help but notice
little black beetles on the ground. Called
blacksmith beetles, they’re ugly, but be
careful not to step on them or you might
cause a rainstorm. At least, that’s how
the old wives tale goes. When you’ve
finished, be sure to put the rake away
with the tines facing the ground—if
the tines face the sky, you’re inviting
more rain.
If you make the mistake of trod-
ding on the beetles or putting the rake
away incorrectly, don’t be too hard on
yourself. We all make mistakes. That
said, once the rain comes, make sure
you don’t use an umbrella. That means
even more rain, and the wind will take
it from you anyway.
Thanks, Grandma
Take heed of your dreams as you
sleep that night. If your dead relatives
appear to you, that means a storm is
a’brewing. Yes, even if you’ve taken care
to watch out for the beetles, delicately
put your rake away, and even thrown
away your umbrella, your dead relatives
can still cause a downpour. Worst reun-
ion ever.
Makin! It Rain
Avoid a storm with these helpful tips
8 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 20— 2019
LÓABORATORIUM
Young Karin - Floor
(feat. Sturla Atlas)
In her new song, Hera
asks the important
questions. Just how
does a lie taste? Well,
apparently sugary
as hell, if this slick
folk-pop ditty is to be
believed. If you’re a
traditional pop fan,
Hera will hit all your
buttons. She knows
the genre and does
it well. VG
una schram - bum
boy (feat. Orla
Engstrøm)
The gentle, near-trip-
hop beat and una’s
distinct voice—equal
parts sweet, coy
and delightfully
petulant—puts this
song over any ASMR
track you could
possibly listen to.
The lyrics play a
sharp contrast to
this, as she firmly
sets boundaries
and clearly states
her expectations
to a guy who wants
something di!erent
from her than what
she has in mind.
Expect to hear this
track pumping
from a passing car
downtown soon. AF
Ásgeir - Bernskan
Ásgeir, formerly
known as Ásgeir
Trausti, hits us with
this tune, the title of
which translates to
“childhood.” Of course,
the production is
impeccable, the song
solid, and the lyrics
are actually quite
nice. It could best be
described as a hybrid
between Bon Iver
and Of Monsters and
Men. Of course, it’s
in Icelandic, so if you
can’t even pronounce
the artist’s name (hint:
it’s not ‘Ass-gear”),
good luck. VG
Sin Fang -
Constellations
Sing Fang’s newest
song, “Constellations,”
is soothing indie at
its best. Consider
this: If the Beatles
were reborn as
Millenials, this would
be the music they
would be making.
With “Constellations,”
combined with his
last release “Hollow,”
Sindri Már Sigfússon
has really raised the
bar of expectations
for his next album. It
can’t be any less than
a masterpiece. No
pressure, though. VG

Between Mountains -
Between Mountains
Keep in mind that
the members of
Between Mountains
are all around
17-years old—or at
least they were last
time we checked.
Impressive stu!.
Their first full album
is a combination of
soothing folk music
with interesting
depth, both vocally
as well as in the
songwriting. They
aren’t treading in
uncharted waters
here, but it’s well
done and interesting
enough. VG
Countess Malaise -
HYSTERÍA
Countess Malaise
has always radiated
powerful, foreboding,
sexual energy,
and this album is
probably the best
example of exactly
that. Beats that
crawl like a strange
nocturnal beast in
the shadows. AF
GRAPEVINE
PLAYLIST
„ A" Slá
Einhverjum
Gullhamra“
JUST SAYINGS
“A! slá einhverjum
gullhamra” literally
means to hit someone
with a golden hammer. In
Icelandic though, this means
that you just gave someone a
compliment. The saying can also
mean that you’re hitting on someone—
as in, you’re repeatedly hitting them
with a golden hammer, i.e. you’re saying
things like, “You’re perfect. You're beau-
tiful. You look like Linda Evangelista..”
So hit away, but not with a real hammer.
That’ll probably have the opposite effect.
Unless they’re into BDSM or something.
Get consent. VG/HJC
ICELANDIC
SUPERSTITIONS
Words:
Sam O’Donnell
Photo:
Adobe Stock
First
How did this happen? Must have stepped on a beetle