While Björk and Sigur Rós deservedly monopolize the focus of the world press, here are some other Icelandic artists—besides Mugison, of course—whose profiles are growing fast. Take them home but don’t you dare feed them after midnight, even if it’s still light out:
Jagúar | When the weather turns cold and nasty, 9 out of 10 Icelandic doctors advise you stay warm by shaking your moneymaker (OK, that’s a lie—it’s actually 8 out of 10). Jagúar’s disco-flavored party jams mix Bee Gees falsetto vocals with funk-nasty horns.
Múm | These recent Mugison tourmates embody the best qualities of Icelandic music’s ambient side. Blushing vocals insinuate wintery melodies over brooding electronics and crackling beats. Can’t sleep? Four a.m. headphones rejoice!
Jan Mayen | Jan Mayen is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic, it doesn’t really sound like anything except bird cries and wind. Jan Mayen the band, however, sounds great! Garage-y pop a la The Strokes with the cheeky edge of Rancid and Pretty Girls Make Graves.
Hudson Wayne | Inside Hudson Wayne’s CD package is a line drawing of four men—two in tuxes and two in wedding dresses. Coincidentally, the band’s country-noir sound is a marriage of four men as well—Ian Curtis, Leonard Cohen, Dave Bazan and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Yes, hide your razorblades.
Slowblow | While Slowblow’s music is definitely slow, it hardly blows. Delicate lo-fi arrangements set an intimate context for Orri Jònsson’s melancholic, whisper-sung vocals. Unorthodox percussion rattles about, adding brittle textural elements.
* Read Jason Killingsworth's Mugison feature from issue 19 here.
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