Here's a new post in Magnusk's ongoing series of obscure mid-nineties Icelandic indie bands.
In 1995, when I was approximately 22 years old, I harbored the dream of having my own record label. I set about making it happen, and borrowed loads of money from my mom to make a compilation CD with various Icelandic indie bands. I had no idea how to actually make this work, how to promote and distribute and how to design artwork. I did it anyway and the project saw the light of day in the autumn of 1995.
The CD release went largely unnoticed except in the very depths of the underground scene. It was called "Strump í Fótinn", a play with words which also poked fun at hugely popular compilations which I absolutely loathed. Not many bought it, and I now have a few (hundred) copies piled away, awaiting the day it becomes a priceless collector's item.
Amongst the artists on the compilation were a band called Mósaík. At the time they were around 15 years old, some a year younger, some a year older. The band was formed in 1994 and took part in the Icelandic "battle of the bands", Músíktilraunir, both in 1994 and 1995. They didn't win but someone took a liking to them and offered them recording session in which they recorded the song, "Sjáandi". "Sjáandi" can either mean "Seeing" or "Seer". I'm guessing it has the latter meaning in this case.
Hearing that "some guy" was going to release a compilation CD they offerd the song to me and to this day I frequently listen to it; it's simply the very best of the lot, including the songs I played on myself. I still find it amazing that these teenagers cooked up this amazing song, awash with distorted guitars, violins and cellos.
At that time Mósaík consisted of Benedikt Hermann Hermannsson on guitar, Ólöf Arnalds on violin and vocals, Hanna Ruth Ólafsdóttir on cello, Halldór Jónsson on drums, Andri Guðmundsson on bass and Guðrún Dalía Salómonsdóttir on keyboards.
Not surprisingly many of these pimpled teenagers grew up to become respectable artists. Benedikt now fronts the band Benni Hemm Hemm, Ólöf Arnalds has played with Múm for the past three years and in March released her debut solo album to critical acclaim. You can listen to a song here. Guðrún Dalía is now a classical pianist. Númi Thomasson, who took over the drums from Halldór in 1996, is now Björk's tour-chef, and occasionally joins electronic artist Borko on stage. Mósaík however never released anything besides this song.
So without further ado, and with no picture of the band, here's an mp3, published with kind permission of the artists:
Mósaík - Sjáandi
Bonus Track:
Benni Hemm Hemm - I can love you in a wheelchair baby
In 1995, when I was approximately 22 years old, I harbored the dream of having my own record label. I set about making it happen, and borrowed loads of money from my mom to make a compilation CD with various Icelandic indie bands. I had no idea how to actually make this work, how to promote and distribute and how to design artwork. I did it anyway and the project saw the light of day in the autumn of 1995.
The CD release went largely unnoticed except in the very depths of the underground scene. It was called "Strump í Fótinn", a play with words which also poked fun at hugely popular compilations which I absolutely loathed. Not many bought it, and I now have a few (hundred) copies piled away, awaiting the day it becomes a priceless collector's item.
Amongst the artists on the compilation were a band called Mósaík. At the time they were around 15 years old, some a year younger, some a year older. The band was formed in 1994 and took part in the Icelandic "battle of the bands", Músíktilraunir, both in 1994 and 1995. They didn't win but someone took a liking to them and offered them recording session in which they recorded the song, "Sjáandi". "Sjáandi" can either mean "Seeing" or "Seer". I'm guessing it has the latter meaning in this case.
Hearing that "some guy" was going to release a compilation CD they offerd the song to me and to this day I frequently listen to it; it's simply the very best of the lot, including the songs I played on myself. I still find it amazing that these teenagers cooked up this amazing song, awash with distorted guitars, violins and cellos.
At that time Mósaík consisted of Benedikt Hermann Hermannsson on guitar, Ólöf Arnalds on violin and vocals, Hanna Ruth Ólafsdóttir on cello, Halldór Jónsson on drums, Andri Guðmundsson on bass and Guðrún Dalía Salómonsdóttir on keyboards.
Not surprisingly many of these pimpled teenagers grew up to become respectable artists. Benedikt now fronts the band Benni Hemm Hemm, Ólöf Arnalds has played with Múm for the past three years and in March released her debut solo album to critical acclaim. You can listen to a song here. Guðrún Dalía is now a classical pianist. Númi Thomasson, who took over the drums from Halldór in 1996, is now Björk's tour-chef, and occasionally joins electronic artist Borko on stage. Mósaík however never released anything besides this song.
So without further ado, and with no picture of the band, here's an mp3, published with kind permission of the artists:
Mósaík - Sjáandi
Bonus Track:
Benni Hemm Hemm - I can love you in a wheelchair baby
That's a lovely little song!