For Iceland... Inspiration Item #21

Poor Iceland. What a week.. Could it get worse?

The government quits, the banks are still bankrupt (which should be impossible, but as we have sadly found out in recent months it isn't).

Plus there's the guilt of being THE Island that sunk the economies of Europe (esp the UK which lost billions in the happy-go-lucky posivitism of Iceland's bankers).

And in case they started to feel happy about it all, its going to snow tomo and the temp will hit minus 19. Poor things!

But as this is a positive inspiration item, I'm going to stop my rambling and get to the point. Iceland is still producing some VERY FINE musical talent.

And as long as they keep their gutairs strung and their voices primed the economic crisis might only strengthen the worth of their heartpulling music. What lyrics can't be improved by poverty?

So here it is.. a homage to Iceland and its music. Long may it live through the economic storm ahead.

1. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Had to mention the fame laudered boys who like to run naked on their album art. Their song Festival is my favourite, but Gobbledigook won out in the Triple J Hottest 100 at number 93.
www.myspace.com/sigurros

*For those not in the know, Triple J is Australia's BEST radio station devoted to the latest and greatest in music. The Hottest 100 is the annual vote on what's the best songs of that year.. duh, that was obvious (but according to rumours it is the largest music voting thing in THE WORLD with 800,000+ votes.. which makes me feel all proud and patriotic.. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi oi oi).

2. FM Belfast - new album How to make Friends (advice we all need)

Why they name themselves after a radio frequency of a much conflicted city in Ireland I don't know. But they are bloody good.

Little bit of electronica mixed with a dose of indie edged pop. And the lyrics are in ENGLISH! I know.. they're selling out on good, old Icelandic, but it does make the songs slightly more relatable (plus I can't sing in Icelandic, I've tried and failed).

* Synthia is the best song
www.myspace.com/fmbelfast

3. Emiliana Torrini - Me and Armini (her latest album)

Already mentioned on this blog this songstress has conquered the hearts of many. Her new album came out in September and has pleased many a hard-eyed critic. Personally I can't get past the track Jungle Drum but Gun is kinda freakishly good.

p.s. this got me really excited.. she was the girl who sang the gollum song out of LOTR.. you know, the one which was eerily good.

www.myspace.com/emilianatorrini

4. Seabear - The Ghost that carried us away (presumably over the sea?)

These guys just have a good name so I had to put them in. Plus I like their colourful clothing style and the innocent happiness that pervades their songs. And there are seven of them.. seven little seabears! Any band that can have seven people contending to play music and live to tell a happy tale deserve some loving.

* cute lyrics too.. "when the birds are sleeping that's when the trees sing"

www.myspace.com/seabear

5. Sin Fang Bous - Clangour (if you liked Seabear, you'll like this)

Okay, the man behind Sin Fang Bous is Sindri Mar Sigfusson and his album has been voted second to Sigur Ros in an Icelandic music poll.

I have no idea of the realiability of the voting, it could have been rigged, but lets just believe in the musical genius of the the man who is Sin Fang Bous... you'd have to be a genius to make music under such a name and be taken seriously - say it out loud and you'll see what I mean, but then again maybe he doesn't want to be taken seriously.

Anyways, getting to the point Sin Fang Bous is the little treasure who started Seabear. Apparently Seabear was meant to be a singldom thing but morphed to a seven band member ensemble.

Have a listen to his jingle and jangle www.myspace.com/sinfangbous.

Inspiration Item #21