Hellvar: 2008

Monday, December 22, 2008

DYS covered Purrkur Pillnikk's song "Óvænt" @ Kaffi Hljómalind @ Iceland Airwaves '08

DYS with Elvar on Guitar, Heida & Alexandra in the crowd
www.youtube.com/v/XVbeI-ridCY&hl&fmt=18

Friday, December 19, 2008

Hellvar @ Grand Rokk 19. December 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Hellvar @ Tískubúð @ Laugavegur (í gamla Liverpúl-dótaverslunarhúsnæðinu) 17. December 2008

Hellvar plays Wednesday 17. December 2008 @ Tískubúð @ Laugavegur (í gamla Liverpúl-dótaverslunarhúsnæðinu)
Start: 17:30

Don't forget: Hellvar also in concert Thursday 18. December 2008 @ Grand Rokk venue together with the band Dýrðinni, Nóra & The Way dow
Start: 20:00

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Heiða Eiríksdóttir @ Art School (Myndlistarskólinn)

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Hellvar @ NASA 11. December 2008

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Sverrir's Old Band Texas Jesús is Back

The band Texas Jesús is back (in rehearsal space). Kicked off in 1990 under the name "Ástardúettinum Siggi og Sverrir". Changed their name in Texas Jesús, after the David Koresh tragedy @ Waco, Texas in 1993.
Released a Cassette "Nammsla Tjammsla", recorded @ Framsóknarhúsinu í Keflavík (100 copies + 100 copies extra).
Played concerts in Denmark & Finland in 1996.
CD in 1996: "Jæja Vinur".
Cassette & CD are now collector's items.
Siggi is the singer of the band Croisztans, and Sverrir is now the bass player of the band Hellvar.
Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir aka Heiða í Unun was often supporting the band.
Probably they will organize a concert/some concerts next year.
Buy the songs @ www.tonlist.is/Music/ViewArtist.aspx?AuthorID=3798
More information to be found @ their Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Texas-Jesus/36450555681?ref=nf
Listen to some songs @ Magnus Axelsson mp3 blogg
http://mp3.blog.is/blog/mp3/entry/736079

Review of Hellvar @ Airwaves '08 by Taunt

My first stop was Tunglid to check out Hellvar, whose new album, Bat Out Of Hellvar (ZING!), is ultra catchy and a total worthy purchase. Like a lot of Icelandic rock/pop, this band has a bit of an 80’s synth-pop influence, but minus the kitsch.
Source:
http://flaunt.com/iceland-airwaves

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Kimi Collaboration: Heiða @ Mordingjarnir Concert @ Grand Rokk (October 2008)

Heiða Eiríksdóttir

Hellvar @ Purrkur Pillnikk Tribute Band @ Grand Rokk (October 2008)

Elvar took the place & guitar of Flosi.

Heiða Eiríksdóttir & Alexandra having fun off stage & on stage.

Heida singing

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Hellvar @ Rockville Festival @ Paddy's 29. November 2008

SATURDAY 29. NOVEMBER - KIMI RECORDS
22:00 – 22:30 Morðingjarnir
22:45 – 23:15 Hellvar
23:30 – 00:00 Retro Stefson
00:15 – 00:45 FM Belfast
01:00 – 1:30 (Sérstakir gestir Kima) - Æla
01:45 – 04:30 Mixed Emotions
www.myspace.com/paddysforever
www.myspace.com/rockvillepaddys

Saturday, November 22, 2008

"I need a vacation" by Ruddinn featuring Heida

Ruddinn featuring Heiða
"I need a vacation"
http://amiestreet.com/music/ruddinn/i-need-a-vacation/

Icelandic music big in Brazil

Nem só de Björk vive a Islândia!
Plúseinn, FM Belfast e Ghostigital são alguns dos nomes da nova safra islandesa
9. October 2008
"Gott barn kveður góða vísu"

HELLVAR
www.myspace.com/hellvarmusic

Hellvar é uma das bandas que mais crescem em popularidade ns Islândia no momento. Sua vocalista Heida tem a voz idêntica à da Björk dos tempos do Sugarcubes (ouça "Give me Gold"), mas apesar disso a banda tem um som próprio, mais chegado ao indie/electrorock.
A banda se juntou em 2004 e lançou seu primeiro álbum Bat Out Of Hellvar no final de 2007 e desde então tem excursionado muito, incluindo os EUA.
Hellvar - Give Me Gold
Hellvar - Electric Toy
Source:
http://rraurl.uol.com.br/cena/5777/Nem_so_de_Bjork_vive_a_Islandia_

Hellvar in Electrical Language # 148 (November 2008)

Hellvar's "Give me gold" & "Nowhere" Songs featured in UK's Electrical Language Podcast
Introducing Heiða Eiríksdóttir (with bodyhair)!
www.electricallanguage.co.uk/2008/11/electrical-language-no-148.html

Photographs of Heiða Eiríksdóttir

Monday, November 17, 2008

Alexandra & Tobias "Bjössi" Traustason Protesting

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Frumpets "You know why" @ Trubatrix @ Café Rosenberg @ Iceland Airwaves 2008

The Frumpets with Alexandra
"You know why", a song of Alexandra
www.youtube.com/v/DUt873Nifek&hl&fmt=18

Hellvar's "Nowhere" @ Music Alliance Pact # 2 (November 2008)

I've chosen Hellvar's song "Nowhere" to be the song of the month @ MAP Project, a collaboration of 14 blogs about music from 14 different countries (2 countries joined this month: Norway & Canada).

Today it's 15. of the month, 15. November, so here's the second edition of the Music Alliance Pact. The project is going more global. Two more countries (Canada & Norway) joined, so 2 more songs. Enjoy the 14 songs!

AMERICA

I Guess I'm Floating http://iguessimfloating.blogspot.com
City Center – "Summer School"

www.myspace.com/citycenternyc
Brooklyn’s City Center is the solo work of Fred Thomas from Saturday Looks Good To Me, focusing on ornamental, experimental pop songs created from found sounds, manipulated samples and Thomas's own guitar and vocals. While there’s no official debut yet, he has released a handful of 7”s and there are over 30 free MP3s up for grabs at his blog (http://citycenternyc.blogspot.com/). Look for a debut sometime in 2009.

http://iguessimfloating.net/assets/mp3s/Summer%20School.mp3
ARGENTINA
Zonaindie http://zonaindie.com
Sync Filmico – "El Polvo De Tus Sentimientos" www.myspace.com/syncfilmicomusic

With heavy influences from alt. rockers like Radiohead and Jaime Sin Tierra, this song is from Sync Filmico's second album, El Mar. It was released this year on CD and as free MP3 download from their website (www.el-mar.com.ar/elMar). Their first record was published under a Creative Commons license and can also be downloaded for free.
www.fileden.com/files/2008/10/16/2145849/Sync%20Filmico%20-%20El%20polvo%20de%20tus%20sentimientos.mp3

AUSTRALIA
Who The Bloody Hell Are They? http://whothehell.net

The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition"
www.myspace.com/thetempertrap

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the new material from Melbourne’s The Temper Trap and no wonder, because the first taste of their 2009-due album, Sweet Disposition, is a delay-driven melody fest. Recalling the sounds of ’80s U2, Sweet Disposition was recorded in the UK with famed producer Jim Abbiss, who has worked with some little-known acts like Arctic Monkeys, DJ Shadow, Björk and Massive Attack.

http://whothehell.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/01-sweet-disposition.mp3

CANADA
I(Heart)Music www.iheartmusic.net/serendipity
Ketch Harbour Wolves – "So Long To The Ground" www.myspace.com/ketchharbourwolves

Even by the standards of Canadian indie rock, Ketch Harbour Wolves are pretty under the radar. Dead Calm Horizon is one of the best albums of the year - and free for download on the band’s site (www.ketchharbourwolves.com) no less. Imagine that The National were transported to the Canadian wilderness and started writing songs about rural living and you’d have a good idea of where Ketch Harbour Wolves are coming from. The results are, simply put, hauntingly gorgeous.

www.iheartmusic.net/mp3/KetchHarbourWolves-SoLongToTheGround.mp3

DENMARK
Pastries, Peppers And Canals http://danishmusic.blogspot.com
Heidi Mortenson – "It’s True"
www.myspace.com/heidimortenson

Highly regarded as the queen of experimental, unpredictable music, Heidi’s website says that she “makes colorful and textured songs with a nerdy and dazed approach; her sound grows from playful experiments and inventive production. Add emotional drive, a mentalist flavor and soul of old cartoon" - and who are we to argue?

www.fileden.com/files/2008/8/18/2054527/Heidi%20Mortenson%20-%20Its%20True%20%28Denmark%29.mp3

ENGLAND

The Daily Growl http://thedailygrowl.blogspot.com

Mumford & Sons – "Roll Away Your Stone"

www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons
Here’s some new folky goodness for you. Not folky as in the beardy sense, mainly because the kids in Mumford & Sons are probably too young to grow beards. Led by Marcus Mumford, this west London band peddle a sparkly, breezy, bluegrass-infused folk-pop, and given that they’ve been together for less than a year, they've arrived remarkably fully-formed.

www.thedailygrowl.co.uk/01%20Roll%20Away%20Your%20Stone.mp3

ICELAND
I Love Icelandic Music http://icelandicmusic.blogspot.com

Hellvar – "Nowhere"

www.myspace.com/hellvarmusic

Hellvar started in 2004 when the founding members Heiða Eiríksdóttir and Elvar Geir Sævarsson (Heida + Elvar = Hellvar) moved to Berlin to study philosophy. Heiða had been the singer in the band Unun (aka “Heiða í Unun”)(http://this.is/unun), which released 2 albums (“Super Shiny Dreams” (Iceland version was called “æ”) and “Ótta” (Almost morning)(1999). Heiða made 2 solo albums “Svarið” (The answer) (2000), a Charles Bukowski tribute (2003). Also one album as Heiða & Heiðingjarnir called “tiufingurupptilguds” (2003) with band members a.o. Sverrir Ásmundsson and Elvar Geir Sævarsson. Material written for their rock band was rearranged for a drum machine. Back in Iceland the band became a trio with Flosi Þorgeirsson as bass player, who played in the famous Icelandic band HAM. Early 2007 Hellvar became a quartet: Flosi left the band, but child prodigy Alexandra came on guitar and bass virtuoso Sverrir Ásmundsson was added in the line-up. Together the two boys and two girls stir up a coctail from electronica to new-wave with a twist of lime. Debut album “Bat out of Hellvar” was released in the end of 2007 and was the first release on the new Icelandic record label Kimi Records (www.kimirecords.net). The band toured in the USA, Germany and China. www.fileden.com/files/2008/8/18/2054527/Hellvar%20-%20Nowhere%20%28Iceland%29.mp3

“Nowhere” Live @ Iceland Airwaves ’08 Festival @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqQ_FdAPfZU&hl&fmt=18

IRELAND
Nialler9 www.nialler9.com
Cap Pas Cap – "We Are Men" (Thatboytim remix)
www.myspace.com/cappascap

Cap Pas Cap are heavily inspired by rock music on the fringes - no wave, punk and Krautrock. As a taster for a debut in 2009, the band will release the We Are Men 12" in December with one original track and three hi-grade remixes from Decal, Jape and this from Thatboytim. As well as playing in Cap Pas Cap, members of the band run the Skinny Wolves label which releases stuff from the likes of Indian Jewelry, Telepathe and Effie Briest.

www.nialler9.com/blog/media/Cap_Pas_Cap_-_We_Are_Men_-_thatboytim_remix.mp3

ITALY

Polaroid http://polaroid.blogspot.com

Did – "Ask U2"

www.myspace.com/didmusik

If I could have Foals playing at my house tonight, I would surely call Did as opening band. Four young guys from Turin who play "yellow punk-funk" with pop melodies. They have a free download debut EP out now on Kirsten's Postcard label (www.kirstenspostcard.com). Dance!

www.polaroidallaradio.it/audio/did_-_ask_u2.mp3

NORWAY

Eardrums http://eardrumsmusic.com

My Little Pony – "I Don’t Know Pt.1"

www.myspace.com/mylittleponyoslo

“The band, not the brand” seems to be a statement that will follow Norwegian indiepop orchestra My Little Pony forever. They recently released their debut album Think Too Much to great critical acclaim and new fans include one of Norway's biggest pop stars, Marit Larsen. My Little Pony are a pure pop band, where strong melodies and interesting lyrics make the framework of their music, but they also mix in several other genres in their indiepop universe, from bluegrass and Afro-jazz to reggae and more folk-oriented elements.

www.eardrumsmusic.com/MAP/My%20Little%20Pony%20-%20I%20Don%27t%20Know%20Pt.%201.mp3

PERU
SoTB http://sideoftheblog.blogspot.com
Cementerio Club – "Stereoman"

www.myspace.com/cementeriocluboficial
Cemeterio Club’s history can be summed up in numbers - a 10-year career, four studio albums, three acoustic albums, one lengua MTV. Led by Jose Arbulú, they are a clear example that good rock sung in Spanish exists. Here’s Stereoman from their latest album, released last year.

www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/2039984_nfand/CementerioClub-Stereoman.mp3

SCOTLAND
The Pop Cop http://thepopcop.blogspot.com
Beerjacket – "Drum"

www.myspace.com/beerjacket

Beerjacket is a young man with an acoustic guitar whose backing band comprises a tambourine and a drum machine. Stylistic comparisons to Elliott Smith or Jose Gonzalez wouldn’t be far off, while his prolific output of albums offer an endearing lo-fi sound that lets the quality of his songs and the calibre of his songwriting steal the show.

www.fileden.com/files/2008/8/18/2054527/Beerjacket%20-%20Drum%20%28Scotland%29.mp3

SPAIN

El Blog De La Nadadora http://lanadadora.blogspot.com
Espanto – "Profesora De Primaria"
www.myspace.com/espantosi
Espanto are a duo formed by Luis and Teresa, who come from a small city in the north of Spain. After releasing a series of extraordinary demos, their first CD, Cantando En Tu Siesta - on the Spanish label Birra y Perdiz(www.birrayperdiz.com) - compiled their best songs up till 2007. Their music is basically pop, with references that range from Television Personalities to The Magnetic Fields.
www.fileden.com/files/2008/8/18/2054527/Espanto%20-%20Profesora%20De%20Primaria%20%28Spain%29.mp3

SWEDEN

Swedesplease www.swedesplease.net
Hajen – "Sharks"

www.myspace.com/hajensmyspace
Hajen has a very limited repertoire (three MySpace demos to be exact), but she’s just the type of artist that deserves the wider recognition the web can provide. She may not be completely ready for primetime but her uniquely Swedish take on the piano pop of Tori Amos and Regina Spektor is impressive. Hajen means shark in Swedish so it seems appropriate to highlight her theme song. With its warning of "sharks in the water, sharks up on land" you can bet this is not simply a tale of danger in the ocean.

www.swedesplease.net/music/Hajen_Sharks.mp3

More about the MAP Project
Blogging Global Music @ www.nhpr.org/node/18985
An Interview of Virginia Prescott with Jason Cranwell of Scottish The Pop Cop on New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR).

Get all the mp3s @
www.zshare.net/download/5131760222cf9fdd

Saturday, November 15, 2008

"Bat out of Hellvar" available @ ANOST website

A Number of Small Things (ANOST), the Webshop of Morr Music Label
Albums of Kimi Records Label available @ www.anost.net/beta/index.php?cat=c1246_CD.html&sort=&XTCsid=c98b0949faa2f9289129aa3e2ab2eeca&filter_id=301063

Hellvar - "Bat Out Of Hellvar"
(krcd001)
Künstler: Hellvar
Album: Bat Out Of Hellvar
Label: Kimi Records
Rock meets Electronica and Electronica meets new wave on this first of many albums to come from Hellvar. Aptly titled "Bat Out of Hellvar", this CD isn't quite the paradise by the dashboard light you might be familiar with but still carries with it a dash of dark paradise.
From "Insomnia" to "Nowhere" with an "Ice Cream Drum Machine" in between, the album has a bright yet gloomy vibe to it. The catchy "Give Me Gold" has proved to be something of a hit. Led by charismatic singer Heida, the band has proven to be a force in concerts and has already gathered a strong and loyal following in Berlin, where the band was founded by Heida and hubbie Elvar two years ago.
Already the band has proven to have a knack for the unusual. To celebrate the release of their CD, the band contacted the Reykav’k bus company and played a set while driving a popular route. "The experience is what counts" says singer/guitarist Heida, "sound comes second. Driving through the streets of Reykjavik using public transport, watching the city life throught the window while listening to fun music. That's something for the future."
Although more than content with Hellvar's novelty, the public transportation system in Reykjavik has yet to offer them a contract for the future.
However, they will. Nobody can resist an offer from Hellvar.
www.anost.net/beta/product_info.php/info/p103827_Hellvar---Bat-Out-Of-Hellvar-br----krcd001-.html

Spot Elvar in the Crowd

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

People protesting downtown: Day & Night

Saturday Afternoon

Pissing the night away (Chumbawamba - Tubthumping)
Saturday Night Live @ Reykjavik

Monday, November 10, 2008

Alexandra & Heida: Hungry like a wolf?

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Hellvar @ Islandia Japan

Hellvarは第二のシュガーキューブスなるかと言われたUnun（ウンウン）のヴォーカリスト、Heidaがフロントに立つバンドで、私はひたすらHeidaのライブが見たかった。
　でも、Kimi Nightで最初に出てきたのは、よく知らないメキシコ人男性。なんでも、数日前にアイスランドにやってきて、リハーサル室で意気投合して、「やらせてほしい」と言われたとか。他の出演者も「ま、いいんじゃない」ということで、数曲。
　悪くなかったけど、早くHellvarにしてよ！
　そして念願のHellvar登場。アイスランド語読みでヘトルヴァル、英語読みでヘルヴァル。本人に尋ねたところ、どちらの読みでも正しいと言われました。
　黄色いジャンプスーツを着たのがヘイダ(Heida)。よく通る声で、艶もパンチもあり、いいわいいわぁ。でも、この声をもっと生かす方法がありそうな気がしないでもない（ビョークみたいに）。
　ヘイダはヴォーカリストとしては逸材だと思います。ロック歌ってるのがいいのか悪いのか・・・。いえ、もちろん素敵なアルバムを作ってます。本人も、ロックが好きなようなのでいいけど、なんか違う落としどころが違うくない？私は彼女がポップ系を基本に歌った方が、いいと思うんだけどなぁ。どうだろう。とにかくヴォーカリストとしては抜群です。
http://icelandia1.exblog.jp/

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Monitor Magazine # 13 (October 2008): Article about Unun

Wembley, Hroarskelda og Uxi '95
Article written by Haukur Vidar Alfredsson

Back around Christmas 1994, Arni Matt wrote in Morgunbladid Newspaper that the song "Hann mun aldrei gleym'enni" of the band Unun was the best song of that summer. Singer of that song was Runar Juliusson (aka Runar Jul).
Unun was born in the summer of 1993, with founding members Dr. Gunni (of S.H. Draumur & Bless fame) and Thor Eldon (of Sugarcubes & KUKL fame).
Unun as Quintet: Gunnar (Dr. Gunni) on bass, Thor on guitar, Jóhann Jóhannsson on keyboard, Heiða Eiríks(dóttir) as the singer and Oli Björn Olafsson on drums.
They played @ Wembley, as supporting act for Björk (15,000 people)

UnunList of the Members of Unun:

Gunnar Larus Hjalmarsson

(of Popppunkti fame)

Ragnheiður (Heiða) Eiríksdóttir

(3 times in Eurovision Song Contest in Iceland,now in Hellvar)

Thor Eldon

(Smekkleysa (Bad Taste) Label)

Jóhann Jóhannsson

(of Apparat Organ Quartet, Kitchen Motors fame)
Oli Björn Olafsson

(makes music for theatre & movies)

Birna Helgadóttir

(not in music business @ the moment)

Viðar Hakon Gíslason

(was member of Trabant, now member of Motion Boys)

Þorvaldur H. Gröndal (Doddi)

(was member of Trabant, now drummer of Motion Boys)

Birgir Baldursson

(member of Salin hans Jons mins)

Song "Lög unga folksins" was covered by the Icelandic Spice Girls called Nylon

An alternative hot-dog in the supermarket

Rick, with an Icelandic scarf, aka the Mexican one man's band Halo Between

together with Heida & Elvar having an alternative hot-dog

early in the morning downtown R'vik

www.myspace.com/halobetween

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Review by All Scandinavian of Hellvar's gig @ Tunglid @ Kimi Records Evening

All Scandinavian
First up was rocktronica quartet Hellvar, who released their debut ‘Bat Out Of Hellvar’ last year. I really quite like the album (will tell you about it soon), but as live act they’re pretty much only kept alive by frontwoman Heida, a wonderful entertainer with immense expression in her delivery taking the absolute highlight of their half hour, ‘Nowhere’, to withering heights.
Source:
http://allscandinavian.com/333/airwaves08-1-hellvar-morðingjarnir-borko-benni-hemm-hemm-hjaltalin-and-retro-stefson
Photograph of Elvar & Heida found on Haukur S. Magnusson's Facebook.