Tag Archives: Reykjavík

Damon Albarn: The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows

On November 12, 2021, “Transgressive” label released “The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows”, the second Damon Albarn studio album. It was recorded in 2021, at “Studio 13” in London, “Staðahverfi” in Reykjavík, “Studio 13” in Devon, and was produced by Damon Albarn.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn – acoustic guitar, Elka Space Organ, piano, Wurlitzer, bass guitar, Hammond S100, monochord, drums, Farfisa organ, harmonium, bells, slate marimba, Rhodes Chroma, iPad strings
  • Simon Tong – acoustic and electric guitar, drums
  • Mike Smith – Elka Space Organ, harmonium, saxophone, Farfisa
  • Samuel Egglenton – bass guitar, drum programming
  • Caimin Gilmore – double bass
  • Laura Nygren – double bass
  • Sigrún Jónsdóttir – trombone
  • Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir – trombone
  • Carol Jarvis – bass trombone
  • Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir – French horn
  • Romain Bly – French horn, slate marimba
  • Rakel Björn Helgadóttir – French horn
  • André de Ridder – violin
  • Alexina Hawkins – viola
  • Josephine Stephenson – vocals, cello
  • Einar Örn Benediktsson – a Snapchat
  • Árni Benediktsson – field recordings
  • Samuel Egglenton – engineer, additional production
  • Stephen Sedgwick – mixing
  • John Davis – mastering
  • OK-RM – design, art direction
  • Márton Perlaki – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn and Simon Tong, except where noted.

  1. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows – Damon Albarn, André de Ridder, Simon Tong
  2. The Cormorant
  3. Royal Morning Blue
  4. Combustion – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  5. Daft Wader
  6. Darkness to Light
  7. Esja – Damon Albarn, André de Ridder, Simon Tong
  8. The Tower of Montevideo – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  9. Giraffe Trumpet Sea – Damon Albarn
  10. Polaris – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  11. Particles – Damon Albarn

John Grant: The Art Of The Lie

On June 14, 2024, “Bella Union” label released “The Art of the Lie”, the sixth John Grant studio album. It was recorded 2023 – 2024, at “Moon Zero Two” in Reykjavík, “Microcosm MKII” and “Hoxa HQ” in London, “Memetune” in Cornwall, and was produced by Ivor Guest.
Personnel:
• John Grant – vocals, synthesizers, keyboards, programming, spinet
• Dave Okumu – guitar, Vowel solo
• Ed Baden Powell – guitar
• Robin Simon – reverse guitar, guitar
• Leo Abrahams – acoustic guitar, guitars, synthesizers, spinet
• Adam Blake – acoustic guitar
• Robert Logan – synthesizers, programming, “cut ups”
• Charles Stuart – synthesizers
• Ivor Guest – synthesizers, programming
• Benge – modular synthesis
• Don-e Mclean – talk box, stabs
• Sarah Douglas – chatting
• Rachel Sermanni – chorus vocals
• Robin Mullarkay – bass guitar, fretless bass guitar
• Sebastian Rochford – drum kit, live drum machine
• Kurt Uenala – additional programming
• Cameron Craig – engineer, mixing
• Benge – engineer, additional Pro Tools, additional engineering
• Dave Watson – additional Pro Tools, additional engineering
• James Watson – additional Pro Tools, additional engineering
• Leo Abrahams – additional Pro Tools, additional engineering
• Luke Glazewski – engineering assistant
• Kurt Uenala – computer engineering
• Samur Khouja – main vocal engineering, vocal sample engineering
• Ivor Guest – mixing, additional Pro Tools, additional engineering
• Matt Colton – mastering
• Drinkwater Studio – artwork
• Al Jackson – render

Track listing:

All tracks by John Grant.

  1. All That School for Nothing
  2. Marbles
  3. Father
  4. Mother and Son
  5. Twisted Scriptures
  6. Meek AF
  7. It’s a Bitch
  8. Daddy
  9. The Child Catcher
  10. Laura Lou
  11. Zeitgeist

Of Monsters And Man: My Head Is An Animal

On September 20, 2011, “Record” label released “My Head Is an Animal”, the debut Of Monsters and Men studio album. It was recorded in March 2011 – January 2012, at “Studio Studio Syrland” in Vatnagarðar, Reykjavík, and was produced by Aron Arnarsson, Jacquire King, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, Árni Guðjónsson, Brynjar Leifsson,  Kristján Páll Kristjánsson, Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson.

Personnel:

  • Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir – vocals, acoustic guitar, artwork, design
  • Ragnar Þórhallsson – vocals, acoustic guitar, artwork, design
  • Brynjar Leifsson – electric and baritone guitar
  • Árni Guðjónsson – accordion, piano, organ
  • Kristján Páll Kristjánsson – bass guitar
  • Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson – drums, percussion, artwork, design
  • Ari Bragi Kárason – trumpet
  • Ragnhildur Gunnarsdóttir – trumpet
  • Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir – French horn
  • Aron Arnarsson – engineer, mixing 
  • Styrmir Hauksson – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Dirty Paws – Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson
  2. King and Lionheart – Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir
  3. Numb Bears – Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson
  4. Sloom – Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson
  5. Little Talks – Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson
  6. From Finner – Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, Brynjar Leifsson
  7. Six Weeks – Ragnar Þórhallsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson
  8. Love Love Love – Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir
  9. Your Bones – Ragnar Þórhallsson
  10. Lakehouse – Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson
  11. Yellow Light (includes hidden song Sinking Man) – Ragnar Þórhallsson

Damon Albarn: The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows

On November 12, 2021, “Transgressive Records” label released “The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows”, the second Damon Albarn studio album. It was recorded in 2021, at “Studio 13” in London, “Staðahverfi” in Reykjavík, “Studio 13” in Devon, and was produced by Damon Albarn.

Personnel:
• Damon Albarn – acoustic guitar, Elka Space Organ, piano, Wurlitzer, bass guitar, Hammond S100, monochord, drums, Farfisa organ, harmonium, bells, slate marimba, Rhodes Chroma, iPad strings
• Simon Tong – acoustic and electric guitar, drums
• Mike Smith – Elka Space Organ, harmonium, saxophone, Farfisa
• Samuel Egglenton – bass guitar, drum programming
• Caimin Gilmore – double bass
• Laura Nygren – double bass
• Romain Bly – French horn, slate marimba
• Rakel Björn Helgadóttir – French horn
• Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir – French horn
• Sigrún Jónsdóttir – trombone
• Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir – trombone
• André de Ridder – violin
• Alexina Hawkins – viola
• Shelley Sörensen – viola
• Josephine Stephenson – vocals, cello
• Árni Benediktsson – field recordings
• Carol Jarvis – bass trombone
• Einar Örn Benediktsson – Snapchat
• Samuel Egglenton – engineer, additional production
• Stephen Sedgwick – mixing
• John Davis – mastering
• OK-RM – design, art direction
• Márton Perlaki – photography
Track listing:

  1. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows – Damon Albarn, Andre de Ridder, Simon Tong
  2. The Cormorant – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  3. Royal Morning Blue – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  4. Combustion – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith. Simon Tong
  5. Daft Wader – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  6. Darkness to Light – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  7. Esja – Damon Albarn, André de Ridder, Simon Tong
  8. The Tower of Montevideo – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  9. Giraffe Trumpet Sea – Damon Albarn
  10. Polaris – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  11. Particles – Damon Albarn

Sigur Rós: Takk…

On September 2, 2005, “Gefen” label released “Takk…” the fourth Sigur Rós studio album. It was recorded 2004 – 2005, at “Sundlaugin“ in Reykjavík, Iceland, and was produced by Kenneth Thomas, Jón Þór Birgisson, Kjartan Sveinsson, Georg Hólm and Orri Páll Dýrason.

Personnel:

  • Jón Þór Birgisson – vocals, guitar, design
  • Kjartan Sveinsson – keyboards
  • Georg Hólm – bass guitar
  • Orri Páll Dýrason – drums
  • Amiina – strings, string arrangement 
  • Ingrid Karlsdóttir – violin
  • Matthías Stefánsson – violin
  • Gréta Salóme Stefánsdóttir – violin
  • Stefanía Ólafsdóttir – viola
  • Eyjólfur Bjarni Alfreðsson – viola
  • Kristín Lárusdóttir – cello
  • Júlía Mogensen – cello
  • Samúel Jón Samúelsson – trombone
  • Össur Geirsson – tuba
  • Frank Aarnink – percussion
  • Álafosskórinn – choir
  • Kenneth Vaughan Thomas – engineering, mixing
  • Birgir Jón Birgisson – additional engineering
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Ísak Winther – cover design
  • Alex Somers – cover design
  • Lukka Sigurðardóttir – cover design

Track listing:

All tracks by Jón Þór Birgisson, Kjartan Sveinsson, Georg Hólm and Orri Páll Dýrason.

  1. Takk
  2. Glósóli
  3. Hoppípolla
  4. Með blóðnasir
  5. Sé lest
  6. Sæglópur
  7. Mílanó
  8. Gong
  9. Andvari
  10. Svo hljótt
  11. Heysátan

Owen Pallett: Heartland

On January 12, 2010, “Domino” label released “Heartland”, the third Owen Pallett album. It was recorded in 2009, at “The Greenhouse” in Reykjavík, and was produced by Owen Pallett.

Personnel:

  • Owen Pallett – vocals, violin, keyboards, arranger
  • Lisa Chisholm – bassoon
  • Micah Hellbrum – clarinet
  • Sarah Jeffrey – oboe, cor anglais
  • Leonie Wall – flute, piccolo
  • Gabe Radford – horn
  • David Pell – trombone
  • Mike Fedyshyn – trumpet
  • The Czech Symphony Strings / directed by Adam Klemens / recorded by Jan Holzner
  • The St. Kitts’ Winds / contracted by John Marshman / recorded by Jeff McMurrich, Matt Smith
  • Sturla Mio Þórisson – recording
  • Rusty Santos – mixing
  • Alan Douches – mastering
  • Colin Bergh – design, illustration
  • Jimmy Limit – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Owen Pallett.

  1. Midnight Directives
  2. Keep the Dog Quiet
  3. Mount Alpentine
  4. Red Sun No. 5
  5. Lewis Takes Action
  6. The Great Elsewhere
  7. Oh Heartland, Up Yours!
  8. Lewis Takes Off His Shirt
  9. Flare Gun
  10. E Is for Estranged
  11. Tryst with Mephistopheles
  12. What Do You Think Will Happen Now?

A Winged Victory For The Sullen: Atomos

On October 6, 2014, “Kranky” label released “Atomos”, the second A Winged Victory for the Sullen album. The album contains the music from “Atomos”, a dance piece by choreographer Wayne McGregor and his company Wayne McGregor Random Dance. The music was recorded in 2013, in Brussels, Berlin and Reykjavik.

Personnel:

  • Dustin O’Halloran – arrangements, engineer, score
  • Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie- arrangements, engineer, score
  • Nayon Han, Arthur Hornig, Christelle Heinen, Isabelle Klemt, Charlotte Danhier – cello
  • Sophie Bayet – violia
  • Neil Leiter – viola
  • Margaret Hermant – harp, violin
  • Francesco Donadello – engineer, mixing
  • Ben Frost- engineer
  • Bo Kondren – mastering
  • Craig McCaffrey – artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Dustin O’Halloran and Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie.

  1. Atomos I
  2. Atomos II
  3. Atomos III
  4. Atomos V
  5. Atomos VI
  6. Atomos VII
  7. Atomos VIII
  8. Atomos IX
  9. Atomos X
  10. Atomos XI
  11. Atomos XII

Bonnie “Prince” Billy: The Letting Go

On September 19, 2006, “Drag City” label released “The Letting Go”, the twelve Will Oldham (released under his moniker Bonnie “Prince” Billy) studio album. It was recorded in 2006, in Reykjavík, Iceland and produced by Valgeir Sigurðsson.

Personnel:

  • Dawn McCarthy– vocals
  • Emmett Kelly– guitar
  • Paul Oldham – bass
  • Jim White– drums
  • Valgeir Sigurdsson– recording, mixing

Track listing:

  1. Love Comes to Me
  2. Strange Form of Life
  3. Wai
  4. Cursed Sleep
  5. No Bad News
  6. Cold & wet
  7. Big Friday
  8. Lay and Love
  9. The Seedling
  10. Then the Letting Go
  11. God’s Small Song
  12. I Called You Back
  13. Ebb Tide (bonus on some versions)

Björk: Vespertine

Vespertine

On August 27, 2001, “One Little Indian Records” label released “Vespertine”, the fourth Björk solo studio album. It was recorded 2000-2001 in San Pedro de Alcántara, Spain; Reykjavík, Iceland; New York City, and was produced by Björk, Thomas Knak, Martin Gretschmann and Marius de Vries.

Personnel:

  • Björk– arranger, programming, beat programming, basslines, strings arrangements, choir arrangements, harp arrangements, music box arrangements, vocal editing, sounds recording, field recording
  • Vince Mendoza– string arrangements, choir arrangements, orchestration
  • Zeena Parkins– harp, harp arrangements
  • Caryl Thomas – harp
  • Jack Perron – adaptation to music box
  • Guy Sigsworth– programming, beat programming, celeste, celeste arrangements, clavichord, clavichord arrangements, choir arrangements
  • Jake Davies – programming, Pro Tools, engineer
  • Matthew Herbert– programming
  • Valgeir Sigurðsson– programming, beat programming, Pro Tools, engineer
  • Martin Gretschmann aka Console– programming
  • Thomas Knak– programming
  • Matmos– programming, beat programming
  • Damian Taylor – programming, beat programming, Pro Tools
  • Marius de Vries– programming, beat programming
  • Patrick Gowers – vocal and organ arrangements
  • Paul’s Cathedral Choir, conducted by John Scott
  • Leigh Jamieson – Pro Tools
  • Jan “Stan” Kybert – Pro Tools
  • Mark “Spike” Stent– mixing
  • M/M Paris– art direction, design, drawing
  • Inez van Lamsweerde, Vinoodh Matadin – photography

Track listing:

  1. Hidden Place – Björk
  2. Cocoon – Björk, Thomas Knak
  3. It’s Not Up To You – Björk
  4. Undo – Björk
  5. Pagan Poetry – Björk
  6. Frosti – Björk
  7. Aurora – Björk
  8. An Echo, a Stain – Björk, Guy Sigsworth
  9. Sun In My Mouth – Björk, E.E. Cummings, Guy Sigsworth
  10. Heirloom – Björk, Martin Gretschmann
  11. Harm of Will – Björk, Guy Sigsworth
  12. Unison – Björk

 

The Fall: Hex Enduction Hour

Hex_Enduction_Hour

On March 8, 1982, “Kamera” label released “Hex Enduction Hour”, the fourth Fall (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Regal Cinema” in Hitching, in 1981 at “Hljóðriti” in Reykjavik, and was produced by Grant Showbiz, Richard Mazda and Mark E. Smith.

Personnel:

  • Mark E. Smith– vocals, guitar, tape operation, design
  • Craig Scanlon– guitar, piano, backing vocals
  • Marc Riley– electronic organ, piano, guitar, banjo, backing vocals
  • Steve Hanley– bass guitar, xylophone, backing vocals
  • Paul Hanley– drums, guitar
  • Karl Burns– drums, tape operation, backing vocals
  • Kay Carroll – percussion, backing vocals
  • Alan Skinner – design

Track listing:

All lyrics by Mark E. Smith, except where noted.

  1. The Classical
  2. Jawbone and the Air-Rifle
  3. Hip Priest
  4. Fortress / Deer Park – Mark E. Smith, Craig Scanlon, Marc Riley, Karl Burns
  5. Mere Pseud Mag. Ed
  6. Winter (Hostel – Maxi) – Mark E. Smith, Craig Scanion
  7. Winter 2 – Mark E. Smith, Craig Scanion
  8. Just Step S’ways
  9. Who Makes the Nazis?
  10. Iceland – Mark E. Smith, Craig Scanlon, Marc Riley, Steve Hanley
  11. And This Day