In retrospect, with a name alluding to the famous novella written by one of my favorite authors (John Steinbeck), it was inevitable that I would explore the music of the band Of Monsters and Men. This six-piece indie/folk band is just the latest Icelandic group to emerge from the small, remote island that seemingly produces more internationally-acclaimed musicians than it should, joining the likes of Sigur Rós, Björk, Emiliana Torrini and the last artist I interviewed, Ólöf Arnalds. In 2010, Of Monsters and Men broke onto the Icelandic music scene when they won the nation-wide battle [...]
It finally happened. Winter arrived. Snow fell and we woke up this past Sunday with about three inches of the stuff. I'm glad it didn't arrive earlier, as Friday saw me at KSVR for a four hour stint of music. The first two hours flirted with folk music and the latter half was full-on garage rock, garage pop and psychedelic pop. Much of the 10 to midnight show came courtesy Finest Kiss , who posted some great 2011 lists. Taking [...]
Iceland's freshest import is here to bring a new look at old Folk. This EP of cover songs is excellent. It also doesn't hurt that Ólöf is dreamy. Read more » http://rpc.blogcatalog.com/ http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ ping
It's very cold out, and an eerie blanket of mist envelopes the Somers Town Church. It looks quite spooky and isolated as we approach, like the opening scene to Hammer Horror film. Fortunately inside is candle-lit and parochial and full of people in knitwear: the Vicar of Dibley for indie folksters. I arrive just in time to hear the end of Snorri Helgason's set. He is soft-voiced, and liltingly lyrical. When Ms Arnalds arrives for her set she thanks him profusely then dedicates a song to him "I hope his wife won't think this is inappropriate" she says [...]
The ultimate statement of affection, 'I love you', is perhaps the most difficult utterance in the English language, and it is perhaps for this very reason that celebrated Parisian cooer Camille has hacked it up for the title of her fourth studio LP. For while some mumble it hurriedly, anxiously awaiting reciprocation and replication, others never articulate said hallowed words in a lifetime. Camille however, in typically eccentric fashion, hiccups fragments of it over barely comprehensible gurgles and raggedy banjo twang on the album's eponymous track. Ilo Veyou is a record that's [...]
Ólöf Sings may be a somewhat self-explanatory title to an Ólöf Arnalds EP: many are well aware of the Icelandic songstress' existence, besides the fact that she doesn't merely sing but she seduces with her voice cosier than an eternity of evenings in on a well-worn sofa, although in this instance there probably out to be a trail of ellipses following such a title. For on this sweet and superb extended-play Arnalds gives a selection of her preferred artists a soft and subtle redux. A less rhythmic, equally emotive take [...]
Ólöf Arnalds - Icelandic singer follows up her praised alt/folk and art/pop 2010 album Innundir skinni with this five-track EP of well-chosen covers -- her first release sung completely in English sets the stage for a new all-English album of original songs due in 2012 // Ólöf Sings (November 8, One Little Indian) // Sounds like: Arnalds' fragile, accented warble of a voice is a but of an acquired taste but theres' no disputing the fact that beyond the ethereal quality of her singing there is some genuine, unpretentious [...]
Ólöf Arnalds' next release will be an EP of covers, where the Icelandic singer/songwriter rephrases songs by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Arthur Russell, Neil Diamond and more using her spare, acoustic arrangements. Hear a cover of Neil Diamond's " Solitary Man " as well as a cover of Bruce Springsteen's " I'm On Fire " (with a bonus live video) after the jump. Read More...
Enjoy 'Solitary Man' via SoundCloud. Olof Sings will see daylight shortly. Purchase Olof Arnalds items via Insound. MP3: Olof Arnalds - Vid Og Vid
Today's Mix/Cover/Live includes Ólöf Arnalds, The National and Blood Orange. The National - About Today (Live)
Also, listen to Ólöf Arnalds cover Gene Clark and Bruce Springsteen.
Enjoy "With Tomorrow" & "I'm On Fire" via SoundCloud. Olof Sings will see daylight shortly. Olof Arnalds recently dropped by KEXP. Purchase Olof Arnalds items via Insound. MP3: Olof Arnalds - Vid Og Vid
Watch 'Mr. Tambourine Man' below. Olof Sings will see daylight very shortly. Click here to view the embedded video. MP3: Olof Arnalds - Vid Og Vid
Last week, from Wednesday until Sunday, Reykjavik, Iceland hosted its annual Airwaves festival. It's an urban festival and a hell of a party, with the city's invariably intimate venues acting in concert to present a slew of shows in a fashion akin to CMJ or SXSW. This year, Stereogum partnered with Iceland Airwaves to curate and present a show featuring the majestic Maryland beauties of Beach House , which meant we got to fly in, stay, and cover the duration of the festival. What follows is a sprawling recap of our week seeing bands and walking around the city. [...]
With a week of wide spread revolts and occupation by the 99% of us, the nation-wide mourning of Steve Jobs, and the unfortunate omnipresence of Lana Del Rey, the burgeois agenda of mediocrity ruled supreme. If you think the Nirvana, Nevermind 20th Anniversary exhumations are killing the legend, more material may very well be on the way as Butch Vig revealed the existence of a still yet to be released Nirvana track "Song in D" during a Sirius XM's Lithium channel interview conducted...
Snorri Helgason is a London based Icelandic singer/songwriter who recently released his second album, Winter Sun. Click here to see the video to his song River. Tell us a little about yourself... I'm from Iceland. I'm 26 years old. I just released my sophomore solo album, Winter Sun , in Iceland. I live in London and play and write music for a living. It's morning and I just had some coffee and I am listening to Gene Clark. [...]
Olof Sings will see daylight on 11/8 via One Little Indian. It features: Close My Eyes With Tomorrow/I'm On Fire Solitary Man She Belongs To Me Maria Bethania Olof Arnalds recently dropped by Daytrotter. Purchase Olof Arnalds items via Insound. MP3: Olof Arnalds - Vid Og Vid
Heitä hyvästit arkirealismille, antaudu eksentrisen edessä! Islannin taikamaailmasta tiensä maailmalle löytävät jatkuvasti uudet, loputtoman mielenkiintoiset musiikintekijät. Huvilan Islanti-illassa la 3.9. tunnelmoidaan Ólöf Arnaldsin , Mugisonin , Sin Fangin ja Múm DJ'sien kanssa. Illan mittaan nähdään myös suomalaiseksi syntynyt islantilainen, Samuli Kosmine n. Ólöf Arnaldsin ihanaa ääntä on kuultu Múmin kiertueilla. Keijukainen, kitara ja kauniit melodiat: Arnaldsin musiikki kulkee kuulaana ja kirkkaana oikeuttaen satunnaiset vertailut keijukaiskuningatar Joanna Newsomiin. Kitaralla kappaleitaan kuljettaa myös Mugison. Äkkiväärää indiepoppia esittävän Mugisonin ihailijakerhoon ovat liittyneet niin Super Furry Animals, Fantomâs kuin Ghostdigitalkin. Elektronisia [...]
On April 18 th I had the opportunity to interview Ólöf Arnalds before her concert at First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia. Having just arrived on a bus from New York City that had broken down along the way, Ólöf was famished and parched. So we sat down at a local cafe in Rittenhouse Square for a couple of drinks while I interviewed her; after she tried – and loved – my beer, we transitioned straight into the interview. O: This is such a treat after such a horrible bus ride. So bad. We had been [...]
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Out This Week 2/14
Diplo - "Climax" (MP3 Stream)
Jackback Feat. David Guetta & Nicky Romero – Wild One Two
Skrillex Uses Satanic and Homosexual Influence to Win Grammys
[listen] Diplo ft. Usher - Climax
