Aug 20th, 10
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FM Belfast started out as a duo in 2005, around Christmas time, when Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson and Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir made a song as a present for their friends. What could have been a one-off collaboration actually turned into a full-fledged band the following year when Arni Vilhjalmsson and Orvar Th. Smarason joined the band. In October 2006 they were invited to play their first full concert at the internationally renowned Iceland Airwaves festival in Reykjavik.
The members now vary from three to eight depending on who can make it. The core of the band is made up of Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson, Árni Vilhjálmsson and Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir and when the stars are aligned correctly they are joined by Sveinbjorn Hermann Pálsson, Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason and Eiríkur Orri (both part of cult Icelandic act múm), Birgitta Birgisdóttir and Björn Kristjánsson. FM Belfast’s debut album How To Make Friends relies heavily on programmed beats and synths, pumped up with the band’s innate sense of fun. The album oozes with a retro 80s vibe and it will make you bop your head till your neck hurts. FM Belfast may reject the traditions of their own county’s music, but they slot very much into the tradition of Icelandic rebellion, and tether it instead to the synths of Scandinavia, pumping them up with their own innate sense of fun.
FM Belfast -- Underwear
Of course FM Belfast are not the first Icelandic band to make electronic music, but their sound is different from that of fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós or Eberg. Their songs are infused with a sense of derision that makes them instantly accessible and familiar. With their lo-fi casio keyboards and simplistic lyrics, the 11 tracks that make up How To Make Friends are not about Iceland’s glaciers and wide landscapes. They are songs for the 21st century, songs for the club. Party on!
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Jul 13th, 10
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Eberg is a young Icelandic musician who made his debut in 2003. With his electronica-meets-indie rock sound, Eberg quickly made a name for himself.
His first album, Plastic Lion, was originally a limited edition Iceland-only release, with 50 CDs packaged in handmade wooden cases. The profits raised from the sale of these 50 first exclusive copies allowed the band to make more CDs, with a more conventional packaging this time. Plastic Lion was then distributed by Bad Taste in Iceland by Rotator in the UK the next year.
Eberg’s second album, Voff Voff, followed in the footsteps of his debut, still mixing electronic arrangements, traditional instruments and samples. The album got rave reviews among critics and bloggers and some of the singles (most notably “Inside Your Head”) became hits in the UK, getting airplay on UK hit-maker radio BBC Radio 1.
Eberg – Inside Your Head [download HERE]
On his third album, Antidote, Eberg manages to create a perfect balance of moods and styles. On this largely varied album, he flirts with indie rock, brings in hints of trip-hop and embraces dreampop. Poignant and quirky, his songs are at times nostalgic, at times hopeful, but always earnest. There are more fuzzed-up guitars this time around but there is still a fair amount of experimentation with textures and sounds. Sharp and concise, and always recognizably Eberg, Antidote is what critics were expecting from Eberg and he has delivered.
Eberg – Antidote
If you want to find out more about Eberg or sample some of his new songs, visit his page on MySpace. Please show your support and buy his music on 
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Feb 16th, 10
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While Sigur Rós might be on an indefinite hiatus, frontman Jónsi (Jón Þór Birgisson) is about to release his highly anticipated first solo album. Go contains nine songs amassed from the large pool of songs written by Jónsi during his many years with Sigur Rós. The album is sung in English and Icelandic, and was co-produced by Jónsi, his partner Alex Somers and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol). Let there be mentioned that classical composer Nico Muhly also collaborated with Jónsi on the project.
Jónsi – Boy Lilikoi
What was originally going to be a low-key, acoustic album sort of exploded somewhere along the creative process and turned into sheer aural fireworks. Jónsi’s vocals evolve in a rich sonic landscape where fluttering piccolos, expansive strings, brass, offbeat piano and percussion join in unison and leave you gasping for air.
Jónsi – Grow Till Tall
Go will be in stores April 5th (april 6th in north america). For more info, go to the official website or find Jónsi on MySpace.
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Jul 24th, 09
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Jón Thór “Jónsi” Birgisson (famous for his work as part of Icelandic ambient band Sigur Rós) is releasing a new project together with his partner Alex Somers. Riceboy Sleeps is a moving work that takes the listener to otherworldly musical landscapes.
Feb 8th, 07
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New sounds coming from Iceland! Eberg’s music is fresh, it’s original, it’s gorgeous! Just listen to “Inside your head” or “Plastic Lion” and you will be charmed by this very talented young Icelandic artist.
His first album, Plastic Lion, was originally only released in Iceland, in a handmade wooden case, and the profits raised from the sale of these 50 first exclusive copies allowed the band to make more CDs, with a more conventional packaging this time. After getting rave reviews for his first work, Eberg released a new CD earlier this year and it’s now available for download on
Eberg – Inside Your Head
If you wanna hear some of Eberg’s songs or learn more about this artist, visit his MySpace or his label InstantKarma.
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Sep 22nd, 05
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Sigur Rós are an Icelandic post-rock band formed in 1994 by . They hail from the same creative and vibrant Icelandic music scene as múm and Amiina. Their debut album Von (Hope) was released in 1997, followed by a remix collection, Von Brigði, in 1998. International acclaim came with 1999’s Ágætis byrjun (“An alright start”), which many critics worldwide hailed it as one of the best albums of its time.
The band recently released Takk, their fourth studio album, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Breathtaking orchestrations and startlingly beautiful melodies combine to build a record that will bring out a different mood and emotion with every listen.
Sigur Rós – Saeglopur
Takk is the work of a band operating at the very top of their game, investing pop music with a sense of magic long since lost in the mists of time and imagination. This album is truly original and seems to exist outside common genre definitions, so much so that any comparison seems inappropriate. Takk is an instant classic, and might well turn out to be sigur rós’s masterpiece.
Find out more about Sigur Rós on their official website or on MySpace. Buy their music on
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