Pitchfork reports that Jónsi has cancelled all of his upcoming scheduled acoustic in-store performances saying "it was the most uncomfortable experience of his ten years in the public eye": http://pitchfork.com/news/40484-jonsi-cancels-in-store-tour/
A new video from Icelandic act Hjaltalín for the song "Sweet impressions". Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpPN1uYAwgc
Under the Radar goes to see Icelandic artist Jónsi live in LA: http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/jonsi_at_the_fox_theater_pomona_ca/
Iceland Music Export reports that has signed lo-fi/folk twin sister duo Pascal Pinon: http://www.icelandmusic.is/News/1553/Morr-Music-Signs-Pascal-Pinon-/default.aspx
Look for their self-titled debut to be released on December 3 with a 7" single preceding it on October 15.
Drowned in Sound celebrates 10 years of existence with a week-long focus on Nordic music: http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4141266
IceBlah is posting a ton of interviews with various bands performing at Icelandic Airwaves: http://iceblah.typepad.com/
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. The Scrags - In the devil's hands
02. TALK 1
03. Boeoes Kaelstigen - Desolate view
04. Johnossi - Roscoe
05. Kimono - Tomorrow
06. TALK 2
07. Fun - Here comes the ugly man
08. Kite - Hexx
09. Mother of the Forest - Bränna broar
10. Mother of the Forest - Vid berget
11. TALK 3
12. Non Tiq - QUiet
13. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - I could have sworn I heard them SING
14. Enslaved - Raidho
15. TALK 4
16. Säkert! - Riot
17. Kristofer Åström - Devil
18. Sweatmaster - Calling Satan, let me in
19. Mercyful Fate - Black funeral
20. TALK 5
21. Lighthouse Project - Lust for lie
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Efterklang will tour Holland in February as part of the Cross-Linx Festival where they will be backed by a 16-person orchestra (conducted by Daniel Bjarnaso of Iceland):
02/17 - Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht
02/18 - Muziekcentrum Frits Philips, Eindhoven
02/19 - De Oosterpoort, Groningen
02/20 - De Doelen, Rotterdam
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Simian Ghost - Beat on the brat
02. TALK 1
03. End of All - Folkhemmet
04. In These Woods - Bear
05. The Bells - Outside
06. Britta Persson - Some girls some boys
07. TALK 2
08. Kråkesølv - Nordavind mot varme kinn
09. Tomas Halberstad - The pendulum swings again
10. WhoMadeWho - Left hand of the boxser
11. TALK 3
12. Säkert! - Köttet är svagt
13. Next Life - Battle tactics
14. Kaka - Candyman
15. The Fine Arts Showcase - Spanish kerosene
16. TALK 4
17. Kimono - Black
18. Axe - Up against common sense
19. NNDC - Mouthful of diamonds
20. Slöa Knivar - Anticimex
21. Enforcer - Take me to hell
22. TALK 5
23. Ikons - Imperiet
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.
Icelandic artist Ólöf Arnalds will be supporting Blonde Redhead on tour in the US come November:
11/14 - House of Blues, San Diego, CA
11/15 - Glass House, Pamona, CA
11/16 - The Music Box @ Fonda, LA, CA
11/19 - Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA
11/20 - Roseland, Portland, OR
11/21 - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
11/24 - The Showbox at the Market, Seattle, WA
11/26 - The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT
11/27 - Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
11/29 - Warehouse Live Studio, Houston, TX
11/30 - Granada Theater, Dallas, TX
12/01 - La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX
Ja Ja Ja has confirmed that the lineup for their October showcase on the 21st will feature The Deer Tracks, The Low Frequency in Stereo and Rökkurró.
I don't get the chance to enthuse about much Icelandic music because, from my standpoint, most of the stuff that escapes those shores tends to be in the cinematic/ambient/postrock vein ala Sigur Rós or whatever, and while I've got nothing against it, it just doesn't do much for me. There are exceptions (there are always exceptions), but they are rare. Unfortunately for an act like Kimono, the press sheet for the US release of their latest album "Easy music for difficult people" touts them as a mathrock band which is a huge disservice because, in fact, they have far more in common with DC post-hardcore or other like-minded acts such as Barra Head. They certainly have the chops to be a math band if they chose that route, as you will hear in "Vienna"'s solo section, but never do they overwhelm with technicality. The emphasis is always on melodies and mood and while, yes, the rhythm section does take its twists and turns (further spotlighted by the thankfully sparse recording), non-musicians will not care. All in all, a quite nice and understated record that's been getting lots of regular play over here. More like this, please!
Kimono - Vienna
Nordic by Nature has a new mixtape posted for October: http://soundcloud.com/shibie/popism-the-philosophy-of-nordic-by-nature-from-s-to-b-back-again-oct-mix
Check out the new SVT program Klubbland for a 3-song live performance from Taken By Trees and then peruse the archives for more, including artists such as Familjen, Seabear and Johnossi: http://klubbland.se/2010/09/17/04-taken-by-trees/
Also maybe worth looking at for the Swedes, a bit more on the upcoming election and the various political songs of the moment: http://klubbland.se/2010/09/17/arets-basta-vallat-kan-inte-placeras-i-block/
Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:
01. Night Minutes - Sweetheart of the funeral
02. TALK 1
03. Korova Station - Come on come on
04. Okkultokrati - Stench of life
05. Johan G Winther - Chasing kingdoms
06. Kimono - Vienna
07. TALK 2
08. SONMOI - The man with no flesh
09. Phonophani - Neverdal
10. Kausal - The conquistador
11. TALK 3
12. Vowels - oiaå
13. The Bear Quartet - We're not gonna make it
14. Säkert! - Rotary
15. Slöa Knivar - Stay dirty
16. TALK 4
17. Slöa Knivar - Hjärtat
18. Menfolk - Skeletons
19. Asha Ali - Hurricane
20. Tiger Tape - She is fiction
21. TALK 5
Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.