We here at Tone Deaf have just a couple of reasons to be excited about all things Icelandic, while the recent news that the country’s latest big music export in Ãsgeir is heading back to Australia for Falls Festival along with a couple of huge sideshows, we’ll also (barring any volcanic interference) be covering Airwaves, the country’s most prominent music festival.
Not that we need any excuse to be excited about Iceland’s incredible music scene (because you know; Björk, Sigur Rós, Emilíana Torrini), but while we’re pretty excited at the prospect of catching The Knife play their last ever show, listening to tunes while relaxing in the Blue Lagoon and exploring the vast amount of brilliant music spaces that Reykjavik has to offer the lineup of some 200 or more bands has left us with a few headaches.
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There are just too many great bands to choose from and we’re not just talking about the international lineup additions of Caribou, Future Islands, Jungle (all announced for Laneway), How To Dress Well, The War On Drugs and The Flaming Lips (to mention just a few) either.
With over 145 local bands on the lineup the next Ãsgeir or Of Monsters Of Men is just waiting to be unearthed. In anticipation of Airwaves and to demonstrate just how vibrant the Icelandic music community is we undertook the very difficult task of choosing just ten local acts that we think are worthy your attention.
Samaris
This three-piece haven’t just released one of the best Icelandic records of 2014, but perhaps one of the most intoxicating electronic LPs to have come from anywhere this year. Sure, we have no idea what they’re saying, but when the Icelandic language is sung it sounds mesmerising (if you don’t believe us just compare how much better Ãsgeir’s record sounds in his native tongue to the English version). Combine that with some mystical clarinet tones and moody beats and you get the uniquely compelling Silkidrangar. It’s their first proper full length after last year’s self-titled release (also worth checking out), which is made up of two domestic EPs and some remixes.
Low Roar
We’re kinda cheating here, but kinda not. Ryan Karazija, formerly of Californian band Audrye Sessions, moved to Reykjavik to release music under Low Roar with a new band. A self-titled album was released in 2011, but it’s 0, which came out earlier this year, that really grabbed our attention. It’s slow melodious pace is undeniably beautiful, but captivating for its haunting and downtrodden moments. Sparse electronic touches colours what could have ultimately been just another indie folk moment lost amongst the rest. 0 is an enchanting listen, not too unlike the idyllic images of the Icelandic wilderness we’ve been captivated by so many times before.
East Of My Youth
Iceland is home to a plethora of amazing female vocalists and the voices of Herdis and Thelma is just the latest to fawn over. Music from East Of My Youth is pretty scarce, we’ve only heard ‘Lemonstars’ so far, but it’s the type of interesting pop music we’re always dying to hear. Both intriguing, experimental and catchy the duo look like they’re onto a sound that they can call their own. We’d like more please.
Lára Rúnars
Speaking of great Icelandic female vocalists Rúnars is another we can’t go past. She released her fourth LP, Moment, back in July of 2013 and it’s the singer at her brooding best. Having collaborated with Damien Rice in the past she has since carved out a significant local and international fan base. The singer-songwriter has matured into an indie-pop force with her latest record.
FM Belfast
Three albums deep and this Reykjavik four-piece just keep getting better and better. 2014’s Brighter Days is FM Belfast at their elecro-pop best and something tells us it’ll sound twice as fun when performed live. It sounds slightly eccentric, very very catchy and ultimately all you’ll ever need to hear to get your body onto the dance floor. Go no further than the title track, which you can hear below.
M-Band
Thick pulsating beats and soulful vocals make up the core of M-Band so it’s no surprise to see Hörður Bjarnason is now based in Berlin. The multi-instrumentalist hails from South Iceland originally, collaborates with electronic muso Tonik and as his latest single ‘All Is love’ proves below he is undeniably one of Iceland’s most exciting up and coming acts.
Kælan Mikla
In a country that is home to more than a couple of artists that are considered unique in their own right Kælan Mikla, which translates to Lady Of The Cold, comes as another act who in their native land is unlike no other. The three-piece combine live music and poetry into a punk force that is both astounding in its emotional weight and outstanding in its presentation.
Sometime
Think Chromatics in its moody and atmospheric synth led composition and something a little more pop from singer Diva De la Rosa. Led by theDanni on production duties the duo have been releasing dark electro-pop since 2005. Their latest LP, Acid Make-Out: Music From The Motion Picutre confirms their tendency to make records that lean on a soundtrack style experience. That’s how you know Sometime make albums to be listened to in the full and boy is it worth it.
Sóley
This indie dream-pop songstress is far from new, but her voice, which runs in a similar vein to Emilíana Torrini, is unavoidable in its melancholic beauty. While Sóley may not have released new music for a while updates from the recording studio and dates around the world brings hope she’ll return soon with a new record.
kimono
“Agitated Icelandic outsider rock poetry” is enough to get any mild listener interested, but kimono sound less like outsiders than they do the country’s catchiest indie pop-rock band. As ‘Specters’ proves below they’ve got all the right hooks to make it internationally. They may not be Iceland’s most daring music export, but you can’t deny an ear worm when you hear one.
