Atlantica - 01.09.2007, Page 57

A T L A N T I C A 55
Of MOntreal From the fires of the folded
Elephant 6 label rises the splendid phoenix of
psychedelic pop: Of Montreal. The band’s au-
ral experiments have outshone and outlasted the
Elephant’s other offspring like Apples in Stereo
and Neutral Milk Hotel. Of Montreal’s onstage
antics during their live performances has put them
in even greater favor with audiences throughout
twelve diverse albums. This year’s show will un-
doubtedly draw one of the festival’s larger turn-
outs, but don’t worry if you can’t make it: you can
catch Of Montreal’s latest work as the jingle for
American chain Outback Steakhouse. Well done.
ofmontreal.net
trenteMOller Danish deejay Trentemoller
(real name: Anders Trentemoller) has come a long
way since making his debut with DJ Tom Von
Rosen in 1997 when they formed Trigbag, the first
live-house act in Denmark. His first full-length
album, The Last Resort, released this year, won
Album of the Year by German music magazine,
Groove and French magazine Trax. His remixes
have also received massive airplay from electronic
deejay giants Danny Tegnalia and John Digweed,
so if you’re an electronic junkie you can expect his
Airwaves set to be nothing short of total ambient
intoxication. myspace.com/trentemoller
OuR IcElANDIc PIckS >
DýrDin Every nation needs their twee
and Iceland is no exception. In the tradition of
Talulah Gosh and Heavenly, Reykjavík brings you
Dýrdin, literally “The Glory”. Their spirited sets
are a welcome compliment to the often-prodigious
mood elsewhere at Airwaves. Sugary sweet Hafdís
Hreidarsdóttir belts out ditties about cotton can-
dy, frog princes, and alien abductions. Their 2006
self-titled album on uS label Skipping Stones has
drummed up attention from the indie crowd on the
other side of the pond; however Dýrdin remains
true to its roots with most songs in Icelandic. But
let’s be honest, no one’s listening to twee for the
profound lyrics, right? mmedia.is/dyrdin
Hjaltalín Though they haven’t produced an
album yet, Hjaltalín continues to make a name for
themselves as a big band with a big sound. Vaguely
reminiscent of Australian indie pop darlings Archi-
tecture in Helsinki with their melodious, multi-
instrumental approach, including a bassoon and a
cello, the two-year-old band cites influences rang-
ing from classical to 60s pop to modern indie rock.
They may not have any chart-topping cred yet, but
as the locals can tell you, the nine of them know
how to make a crowd wanna bop their heads. Yes,
all nine of them. myspace.com/hjaltalinband
MúM Rolling Stone’s David Fricke once described
múm’s sound as occupying a “a no-band’s land be-
tween the ancient and imminent, the organic and
electronic.” You might have a beep here or a moog
there, a whistle here or a trumpet there. Not even
one of múm’s seven members can describe their
own sound. “It keeps changing like the bleedin’
weather, like striped underwear, like a random sum-
mer, like a teenage boy’s voice,” one of them writes
on their MySpace page. Which couldn’t be more
true. They’ve been around since 1998 but if any-
thing is certain, it’s that their majestic, effervescent
lo-fi sounds are just as great now as they were then.
randomsummer.com
Ólöf arnalDs Don’t be fooled by this 27-
year-old’s gentle, almost-whisper of a voice because
Arnalds is a master of all instruments stringed:
violin, viola, guitar, koto harp, even the charanga,
a South American folk guitar. Track by track, her
debut album Vid og vid has taken indie and folk lov-
ers by storm, the simple string arrangements and
accompanying lyrics (sung in Icelandic) exuding the
ambience of dignified calmness. Her demeanor is
intimate and earnest, delivering a poignant set that
leaves you with the warm glow of whiskey and all
the nostalgia of a time when musicians were crafts-
men and audiences were children.
12tonar.is/olof.php
Ultra Mega tecHnObanDiD stefán
Not since Einar Örn and the Sugarcubes have Ice-
landers stood up on stage with as much sputter and
spunk as the boys in ultra Mega Technobandid Ste-
fán. After garnering attention at the 2006 Icelandic
Battle of the Bands and an explosive performance
at last year’s Airwaves, these indefatigable 18-year-
olds have been touring the festivals of northern
Europe. Once frontman Siggi’s shirt comes off pre-
pare to be drenched in teenage sweat and frenzied
beats. uMTBS taps into every last ounce of primal
teen-energy to put on a dazzling show. check your
sensitive indie attitude at the door; these boys are
out for blood. myspace.com/umtbs
for passes and further information see icelandairwaves.com.
Bloc Party
Of Montreal
Lali Puna
MÚM
Deerhoof