Iceland
Audio

Listen: Vidarsson & David DeL’Etoile – Flower Time (B.G. Baarregaard Remix)

By on May 17, 2012 in Blog

The Reykjavik club and dance music scene has been blossoming quite staggeringly over the last two years. May 17 sees the first release by a brand new Iceland dance label called Imola Nights which is an independent record label based in Reykjavík. The release is the single Flower Time by Vidarsson & David DeL’Etoile and it features this remix by B.G. Baarregaard who’s also a key figure within the new wave of Icelandic dance music.

Imola Nights was founded by B.G. Baarregaard and Vidarsson in early 2012 and the label is a cub of the increasingly fertile Icelandic dance music scene. B.G. Baarregaard is a busy man as he’s also one of four owners of another newly established dance label, Color Me Records. Color Me Records just released B.G. Baarregaard’s excellent Nude Disco which is available in all major digital outlets.

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Video

Watch: Edda Magnason – Jona

By on April 30, 2012 in Blog

The last time we posted something by half Icelandic, half Swedish Edda Magnason, she was singing about a coveted stranger called ‘Blondie’ in the video for the single of the same name. Now, she’s back with a new single and video (see below) that also revolves around a boy, namely ‘Jona’. But that’s where the similarities end, really.

This surprisingly dark affair was produced by Edda’s friend and Swedish electronic pop star, Familjen. It then got remixed by Vidderna, and their version then got remixed by NIVA, who never even had heard the original. Then his remix of the remix got remixed by Justus Köhncke, who never had heard the original nor the Vidderna remix. In addition, Nisse Axman has made videos for all the four tracks. The entire package comes out tomorrow via Adrian Recordings, and on their website you will also be able to listen to a demo version of ‘Jona’, along with a bonus remix/mash-up by Simian Ghost.

It is a bit confusing, we know, but it’s oh so good.

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Video

Watch: SYKUR – Curling

By on April 25, 2012 in Blog

The young Icelandic electro poppers Sykur (translation: Sugar), who some of you may remember from our post-summer break showcase back in September, are back with a head-turning video for their new and extremely catchy single ‘Curling’. It features the singer Agnes who’s riding a horse in outer space while throwing a party like it’s the 1990s. And it’s freakishly good. Enjoy.

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Video

Watch: Tilbury – Tenderloin

By on April 25, 2012 in Blog

There’s a growing buzz around Tilbury in Iceland right now. This Reykjavík-based quintet lead by singer multi-instrumentalist Þormóður Dagsson, also drummer of Skakkamanage and Hudson Wayne. Þormóður is backed up by some of the most seasoned players in the Icelandic indie scene, including members of Sin Fang, Amiina, Hjaltalín, Valdimar and Brother Grass.

They just premiered a new music video for their excellent debut single, ‘Tenderloin’. The video features clips from the Icelandic TV-film by Viðar Víkingsson, Tilbury (1987). The film is based on the short story Tilbury by Þórarinn Eldjárn. The video was edited by 10.000 milligrömm.

Their debut album, Exorcise, will be available via Record Records on May 7 and it will be available exclusively on gogoyoko on May 3.

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Aside

Visit: SPOT Festival in Aarhus, Denmark

By on April 24, 2012 in Blog

Even though the fickle weather sometimes suggests otherwise, summer is fast approaching, and so are all the amazing Nordic music festivals, with SPOT taking place in Aarhus, Denmark as soon as next week (May 4-5). So, starting today, we will try to guide you through all the options out there and give you our special Nordic picks of artists you simply must see this summer (so watch this space)! And, without further ado, here they are, our first of many festival tips:

Battlekat
LCMDF
Reptile Youth
Rosemary
The Eclectic Moniker
Sóley
Taragana Pyjarama
Freja Loeb
Kirsten & Marie
Hanne Kolstø
Waldo & Marsha

Tickets and the complete line-up for SPOT Festival can be found here.

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Video

Watch: Sigur Rós – Ekki Múkk

By on March 26, 2012 in Blog

Iceland’s ethereal masterminds Sigur Rós have announced that their new record Valtari will be released on May 28, and in conjunction with the good news they’re letting us listen to and watch a first teaser from the album named ‘Ekki Múkk’. It’s a real beauty just short of 8 minutes, and it’s definitely well worth your time.

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Audio

Listen: Ja Ja Ja on Amazing Radio

By on March 23, 2012 in Blog


The Radio Dept.

Ja Ja Ja editor and booker Rich Thane was invited to join Bethan Elfyn of Amazing Radio to co-host a 2-hour special.  Focusing on some of the finest new (and old) Nordic sounds, Rich takes Bethan on a rough guide around each of the Nordic regions; talking about some of the most exciting labels, bands and events currently on the horizon. Stream the entire show below.

The Denotes – Let Us Run For It
Casiokids – Verdens Største Land
Dmitry Fyodorov – Forcast Burndown
Vanbot – Maybe (Niva Remix)
Philco Fiction – Horizon
Team Me – Show Me
The Mary Onettes – Love’s Taking Strange Ways
The Radio Dept. – I Wanted You To Feel The Same
Hymns From Nineveh – So Mournful The Elegy, So Comforting The Hymn
Battlekat – Into The Forest
First Aid Kit – Emmylou
The New Tigers – Toffee
Black Twig – Lake Song
Simian Ghost – Wolf Girl
Lay Low – Please Don’t Hate Me
Sandra Kolstad – Fire Burn, Blood flow
120 Days – Dahle Disco
Maribel – Jezebel Jive
Air France – It Feels Good To Be Around You
Juvelen – For Only U
Jonas Alaska – In The Backseat
Vuk – Pleasure is Rebellion
Loney Dear – My Heart

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Aside

Live Review: GusGus at by:Larm

By on March 19, 2012 in Blog

Who: GusGus (Iceland)
Where: Stratos, by:Larm, Oslo, Norway
When: 10:30pm, February 16
Words: Phil Hebblethwaite
Photo: Atle Richter Schie

Who could have imagined after all these years that Icelandic electronic music survivors GusGus, who put two albums out on ultimate UK indie 4AD in the late 1990s/early 2000s, would end up coming off like brazen and bearded Greek gods of the disco. An album they put out last year, Arabian Horse, suggested a more song-based direction for the group, and if that impulsively makes you think of compromise and maturity, know that newcomers like Azari & III have put the sass back into melodic club music and GusGus sound just as good. At Stratos tonight, ‘Over’ from Arabian Horse is a triple-diva-vocal Chicago house attack that could have been cut by Hercules & Love Affair, but, as ever, there’s a very European rootsiness to GusGus’ music that sets them apart. Curse those who think of them as a group from times past. They sounded absolutely on the money during this short set, and I’d pay good money to see them play a far longer set to a lot more people, and at a deeper time of the night.

Published with kind permission of the author and by:Larm News, a full version of by:larm News can be read here.

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Watch (this space): by:Larm in Oslo

By on February 16, 2012 in Blog

We meant to post this yesterday but we were having so much fun we… well, we just didn’t get around to it. Ja Ja Ja has decamped to Oslo for the week for by:Larm – the Nordic region’s biggest music showcase/seminar/festival/thing. An annual occurrence, by:Larm brings together a couple of hundred bands, a few more hundred industry delegates and a few thousand (probably) music fans from the general public and houses them all around an array of great and interesting venues and halls, from Thursday-Sunday.

Rest assured we’ll be brining you the hottest tips and all that, assuming we stop drinking for long enough.

 

 

 

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Audio

Listen: Myrra Rós – The House The Home

By on February 13, 2012 in Blog

After a series of successful shows in and around Europe over the past couple of years, Reykjavík singer/songwriter Myrra Rós has just released her debut full length.

The album, entitled Kveldúlfur, is a folksy melodious blend of soft acoustic twinges, intermingling with delicate piano and combined with a harmonious mix of Icelandic and English vocals, making for a mellow and placid listen – the perfect soundtrack to unwind to.

Myrra Rós is currently touring Poland but make sure to check back here soon for information on any upcoming London shows.

For now, the album, released late last month, is available for purchase on gogoyoko; take a listen to the third track ‘The House The Home’ below.

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