With the 2011 edition of Iceland Airwaves fast approaching (it kicks off next Wednesday, October 12 in the country's capital!) we thought "what better time to have a look at what is being produced and made over there than now?". So John Rogers takes a look at what's going down in the local environs and picks a few bands he reckons you should hear, 'cos, well, they're worth it. Read on...»
We went to the freezing cold and icy streets of Oslo to check out some of the finest Nordic talent. We weren't disappointed. »
Norway may have been most famed musically for its black metal, but a lot has changed since then. We take a look at the development of Norwegian music over the past ten years and the reasons behind its rise - plus the rosy future. »
As with our other themed and celebratory weeks having digests of their content, we thought it'd be best to do the same thing for our 10 Years of Nordic Series. There was a large chunk of content, so here's a run-down of what happened in News, Features and whatever else we through up. Thanks for reading. Also, while you're here...the list page will not just be home to the crop of stuff that was posted during those two weeks but also to any other relevant Nordic content over time. »
Ólafur Arnalds, the prodigious Icelandic neo-classical composer, turns food critic as he gives us a guide to dining out in Reykjavík.»
A couple of songs performed at Corsica Studios by Silje Nes. »
Seems like a sensible idea.»
Having just (mostly) finished our focus on Nordic Music in our Nordic Series, this one has come a few days late. But fear not as we'll still be adding to it over the next little while, there's still a few things to come. Still, this new Lykke Li song has come as a lovely Monday morning perk-up. Of the best kind.»
You may, hopefully, have heard of if not actually heard Team Me if you've read our recent comprehensive look at the Oslo music scene with Ben Manwairing's Drowned in Oslo column. Their single 'Weathervanes and Chemicals' was mentioned, was mentioned. And a video of it was posted. »
Reykjavík is a beautiful city. That’s the first thing that springs to mind when we arrive within its limits during the pitch black early hours, virtually nonexistent street light during the drive from the airport sending a striking vista of stars rolling out across the night sky. Despite Friday morning dawning cool and cloudy, it’s no less impressive in the morning light: old-style buildings and expanses of green are interspersed with modern touches and unfinished constructions, perhaps continued relics of the country’s monetary collapse. But for all that event’s devastating economic and social impacts, the city’s yearly Iceland Airwaves festival couldn’t feel more open and welcoming in 2010, with a diverse and friendly crowd and an almost unnerving volume of excellent music. »
The Quietus' John Doran takes us through all things noisy and Norwegian in the past decade.»
New video from Hjaltalin!»
Rather than just us choosing our favourite Nordic records of the last ten years and compiling them into some boring and dry list, we thought we'd ask the natives to do the talking (or writing, but that doesn't fit so nicely into a pun...). It's going along with the theme of our Favourite 50 series and hopefully doing it this way will provide a more enlightening and insightful experience than otherwise might have been. Anyway, here's Part II featuring contributions from Amiina, Oh No Ono and Efterklang. T»
As far as developments of musical genres (or subgenres...) go, The Nordic-originating skweee is a interesting as it is recent. We thought it'd be worth a deeper look at such an intriguingly-named type of music although, as it turns out, the music and its genesis is far more intriguing than its name. Rory Gibb investigates...»
We have to admit that Susanne Sundfør wasn't on our radar before this year's Great Escape. Having seen the queue for Wild Beasts and summarised that there was no chance of getting in, we decided to pop opposite the road to catch the Norwegian songwriter, playing solo at the Unitarian Chapel. What we saw and heard a) made us revel in the sincerity and haunting nature of the music and lyrics and b) want more. »
As part of our ongoing series around local interests, we've started to span across Europe and the rest of the world. This inaugural Scandinavian/Nordic installment comes courtesy of Lazy Acre Records head man Ben Manwairing and fits nicely into our Nordic Music Series, too. he gives us a run-down on the appeal of Oslo as well as a discussion of the artists making waves down the Oslofjord. »
As part of our 10 Years Of Nordic Series we asked a bunch of artists who we like from said region to produce some words on their favourite - or most interesting, most controversial, most fun, most whatever - record of the past decade, and which came out of their country of origin. Part I can be read here and features slices of wisdom from Ungdomskulen, Hjaltalin and Pacific!. Haukur S. Magnússon, however, wrote us something that deserved its own article. So here it is!»
As part of our Nordic Music series we asked those wonderful promoters of such music Ja Ja Ja to put together a playlist of songs – what else? – from some of the best and most exciting artists to emerge from the region in recent years. Here's what they came up with. It includes Ungdomskulen, by the way, which I don't need to tell you is almost a necessity as far as we're concerened.»
As may have briefly been pointed out in other articles we thought - what with Iceland Airwaves being this week and all - that our Nordic Series would be best kicked off with a focus on that very country. It makes perfect sense. So we have tried to do that.»
When you’re celebrating the life of anything, a website such as Drowned in Sound, a loved one, a band, the first thing that always resonates after the initial huff at the candles is the realisation that ultimately, nothing’s changed… it’s ups as well as downs. That’s natural. There’s (hopefully) always something to look forward and that’s what keeps you going.»
Rather than us choosing our favourite Nordic records of the last six years and compiling them into some boring and dry list, we thought we'd ask the natives to do the talking (or writing, but that doesn't fit so nicely into a pun...). It's going along with the theme of our Favourite 50 series and hopefully doing it this way will provide a more enlightening and insightful experience than otherwise might have been. Anyway, here's Part I of many, featuring contributions from Hjaltalin, Pacific! and Ungdomskulen.»
Ho ho ho! The Nordic Series is off and running and the related news stories just keep rolling in! Well, to some degree anyway. This time it's that Danish lot Efterklang who have announced a new project, entitled 'Efterkids'.»
We decided to kick off our 10 Years Of Nordic series on the very week that Iceland Airwaves takes place, for quite obvious reasons. Partly because things like this happen and by "things" I mean "a massive, comprehensive 38-track compilation being given away entirely for free". Pretty good, yeah?»
Back last month we reviewed Icelandic chanteuse Ólöf Arnalds' new record Innundir Skinni, giving it a rather glowing 8/10. So, it's with great coincidence that we stumbled across her SoundCloud Session quite recently, just on the eve of kicking off our Nordic week and in particular a small focus on Icelandic artists, previewing this year's and this week's Airwaves festival.»
So, why run a week of Nordic music to look back over the past ten years? Well, aside from being a Nordic fetishist, this series gives us a chance to look at the diversity within a geographical area and in particular one which has been such a deep well of significant quality over the past decade – and one which is surely only going to get richer. This is worth celebrating.»
As well as featuring the usual round-up of notable releases, this second edition of the monthly column on UK bass music explores the ethereal world of LHF, a seven-strong London collective that evoke the heady spirit of the past while simultaneously looki»
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