Assistant Editor Ryan Bradley's weekly exploration of great global music, in collaboration with Nat Geo Music.
The mercury is beginning to fall in earnest here in New York City. Whenever this happens, I find myself listening to music from cold places—Finland, Sweden, and Iceland, mostly. Iceland especially. So must the good people at NG Music. In the past few weeks, they've posted a review of Emilíana Torrini's new album, Me and Armini, and a bang-up concert video of Björk, bashing a snare drum wth Sigor Rós to their song, "Gobbledigook."
These three bands are Iceland's most popular worldwide, and nicely illustrate the startlingly diverse range of music that comes from this small island nation in the middle of the North Atlantic. There is also great electronica and hardcore metal in Iceland, but for the sake of keeping everyone's ears focused on the cold weather, I'm going to stick to the well-known stuff. It has interesting origins in religious hymns and 1960s rock. The band Trubrot is some kind of starting point. So is the band Voces Thules. Watch them perform Ice and Fire, and then watch Björk and Sigor Rós with Goobledegook. You have right there a nice compression of Icelandic music history in the last two decades/centuries.
Emilíana Torrini: born to an Italian father and Icelandic mother, raised in Reykjavík, made her first album "as a joke" (her words) when she was 17. Her first major record, 2005's Fisherman's Woman, is her best, and I must have listened to it no less than 68 times during one particularly cold Chicago winter. My favorite track is "Heartstopper," but the whole thing is everything a good acoustic confessional album should be: sad, happy, clever, gorgeous.
Sigor Rós is the only of these three I've had the pleasure of seeing live and—wowie—what a show. There are, technically, only four members of the band but they usually play with more (this year's tour is an exception). They make soaring, orchestral, ethereal music that is, not surprisingly, used in many, many films. If you like Radiohead, I can say with confidence that you will like Sigor Rós.
Björk is, after bad mortgages (zing!), Iceland's biggest export. She's the country's most well-known musician—a musical prodigy on par with Stevie Wonder—and cut her first record at the ripe old age of 11. She's also crazy experimental, and for this she is loved and loathed by many. Listen to her biggest hits ("It's Oh So Quiet," "Army of Me," and "Hyperballad") to get a sense of her ridiculous range and bonkers music videos. And she looks like a wood-nymph and dresses like one, too.
Finally, here is a gem of a piece by recent MacArthur Genius grantee, Alex Ross, on his trip on Reykjavík: Ice Pop. I swear I wrote "startlingly diverse" to describe Iceland's musical range before I read the Ross piece, but I'm glad I am in agreement with a certified Genius.
Great!
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/destinations-guide.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/vietnam-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/hanoi-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/saigon-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/indochina-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/laos-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/cambodia-tours.html
Posted by: David Ng | February 27, 2012 at 07:13 AM
I finish listening to that journalist, I knew we were dead. I saw a script of what was going to happen
Posted by: casinospiele-downloads.de | February 26, 2012 at 06:27 AM
It is more interesting to read about Genesis.I think I should read a climbing guide.
Posted by: corrugated runners | February 23, 2012 at 08:27 AM
Guess what!!! Today for the first time I read your article and in one shot I liked your article and the way you write
Posted by: recruitment agencies in uae | February 22, 2012 at 03:27 AM
Iceland's biggest export. She's the country's most well-known musician—a musical prodigy on par with Stevie Wonder.
Posted by: equitacion aljarafe | February 19, 2012 at 09:39 AM
I swear I wrote "startlingly diverse" to describe Iceland's musical range before I read the Ross piece, but I'm glad I am in agreement with a certified Genius.
Posted by: debt consolidation | February 17, 2012 at 01:35 PM
It's simple—up the pressure to yield in a few months what would otherwise take the standard few years to uncover.
Posted by: Land For Sale | February 15, 2012 at 06:14 AM
You have right there a nice compression of Icelandic music history in the last two decades/centuries.
Posted by: alfombras modulares | February 10, 2012 at 02:20 PM
i love these bands, their music is fresh and great
Posted by: Philadelphia House | January 30, 2012 at 08:55 AM
Its definitely an important issue that not enough people are talking about and I'm glad that I got the chance to see all the angles.
Posted by: Online Bookmarking | January 27, 2012 at 01:28 AM
Carrión will have to work to avoid the same problem in this newly created position.
Posted by: payday loans | January 25, 2012 at 09:59 AM
Hawaii but never been to Molokai- even the mane is wonderful! I hope they will find a way to keep and maintain their lovely society!
Posted by: cheap car insurance | November 15, 2011 at 11:14 AM
I do not want anything out of it especially money coz i have enough to satisfy my needs.
Posted by: payday loans online | October 12, 2011 at 10:22 AM
I finish listening to that journalist, I knew we were dead. I saw a script of what was going to happen
Posted by: payday loans | October 08, 2011 at 04:25 AM
I will then publish it on the internet and publicize it by his/her name and lyrics will be mine.
Posted by: data recovery mill valley | September 07, 2011 at 07:12 AM
I have mixed emotions;great pride in his accomplishments and great apprehension. However, he has assured
me that he is well prepared and knows what he's doing. But Don if you break a leg, don't come running to me !
Posted by: bad credit car loans | August 20, 2011 at 06:23 AM
The government and their developer-affiliates ignore these facts. They continue to increase, rather than decrease unsustainable tourism projects. Meanwhile, many regions and islands have completely run out of natural resources, including fresh water.
Posted by: Accident Lawyer New York | August 16, 2011 at 04:26 AM
It all seems right and there is value in all said, however... We are running a non profit organization in South Africa where each staff member is actually
Posted by: Rice Diet weight loss | August 10, 2011 at 10:57 AM
This trip shows that all of you selfish people think about is yourself and no one else. You only cared about doing something for yourself and didn't think about the consequences of what could have happened and how it would have affected other people around you.
Posted by: impianti stereo hi fi | August 08, 2011 at 03:41 PM
I will then publish it on the internet and publicize it by his/her name and lyrics will be mine. I do not want anything out of it especially money coz i have enough to satisfy my needs.
Posted by: Potenzmittel bestellen | August 03, 2011 at 05:03 PM
This post shows the information which is close to standard. Hope next You will again post a nice Article/Information.
Posted by: garden rattan furniture | July 22, 2011 at 11:21 AM
you mean some decrepit industrial buildings in Michigan not even good for rats
Posted by: Dermatend reviews | July 19, 2011 at 08:18 AM
Thanks saying that the amount of land it will require to grow biofuel will not be good for the environment, forests need to be cut down and this fuel
Posted by: payday loans online | July 18, 2011 at 08:15 AM
You sure know what you are talking about and it is through you that i could grasp the full impact of such things.
Posted by: cheapest car insurance | July 15, 2011 at 01:39 PM
I really enjoyed it. I put a link to my site to here so other people can read it. My readers have about the same interets
Posted by: car loans | July 14, 2011 at 04:59 PM