Dancing about architecture

So Iceland has this perfectly demented overproduction of music. You’ll have the chance to sample some for free the evening of the wedding, since that will be Culture Night (“Menningarnótt”) and free performances happen all around town.

Some big names and personal favorites:


Björk

No! I haven’t met her.

Sigur Rós

These post-rock peri-emo oddballs with their extraterrestrial-ecclesiastical meditation/freakouts put on the most amazing touring show I’ve ever seen. We’ve got tickets for November. Heima is their tour documentary/scenery movie.

Hjaltalín

These guys spliced chamber music with pop and actually made it work. Also, stand in awe of the blond guy’s hair.

Svavar Knútur

Strange-haired troubadour w/ ukelele veers between sad introspection, grammy’s traditionals, and occasional barnburning crowd-pleasers.

Mugison

Iceland has blues. This guy’s pretty good. So’s his dad.

Gabríel

Iceland has hip-hop. The lyrics veer toward ‘shy love’ rather than ‘urban murder.’

Páll Óskar

How to explain Páll Óskar? He’s mainly known for his heavily produced electronic dance music, a genre whose inherently overwhelming gayness is further amplified by his stage manner and costumes. These incline to ordinary street clothes made from drag-queen materials, like his track-pants-and-hoodie made entirely of silver sequins. The surprise is that his lyrics are affecting, his voice supple, his range actually sprawls all over the stylistic map, he’s a tireless promoter of local music and outspoken on human-rights topics.

Múm

Originally an electronica outfit, a complete change of lineup has led them into a sort of delicately beautiful zone.

Of Monsters and Men

Chart-wise, the country’s most successful export.You have heard this single.

Sólstafir

Wouldn’t be Nordic without some metal ‘n’ makeup.

Gus Gus

Atmospheric electronica.

Agent Fresco

Young, thinky, and upbeat.

The artists you can’t find on iTunes you can find on gogoyoko. For more try this article, this short documentary, or when you’re here have a free coffee at 12 Tónar as you shop for CDs.