ÞEYR- Mjötviður Til Fóta 2001

And we stay wavie and visit the small volcanic island in the far north of Europe and find us in Reykjavík and meet Þeyr, a renowned new wave band from the early 1980s. Shrouded under a veil of mystery, their three-year existence was characterized by a deep interest in ancient wisdom. Þeyr helped bring about the new wave movement in Iceland and became one of the first Icelandic bands to be known abroad. Their music was now something very special, raw and angry, sometimes compared with works of Killing Joke or Joy Division. Their music never has been re-released as the masters are believed to be lost. However in 2001 a compilation was released called Mjötviður til Fóta. It contains songs recovered from the album Mjötviður Mær and the single Iður til Fóta, two records released in 1981. Thus, the only recorded material of the band currently available is this release, as well as some Icelandic compilations which feature a few tracks, released in 2001 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the creation of Theyr. Stolen words again but I think these describe the work of the band excellent and for that they're made by people who can do it better than me. Extra: the Life Transmission 7'' from 1981.

- Great Thx to Dante D -

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V/A - Rokk Í Reykjavík 2LP 1982

Rokk í Reykjavík was the soundtrack to the Icelandic TV documentary directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson during 1981-82 winter and released in 1982. The soundtrack, which was released in April 1982 as a double LP released through Hugrenningur, features the performances of several Icelandic bands of the post punk/New Wave scene. Bands such as Þeyr, Tappi Tíkarrass (a band led by singer Björk), Egó, Purrkur Pillnikk (with Einar Örn Benediktsson as the front-man), among others, were considered some of the most important bands at the moment, exclusively live material. Truly a fantastic time document of the early Iceland punk scene.

1.Ó Reykjavík - VONBRIGÐI
2.Sieg Heil - EGÓ
3.Gotta Go - FRÆBBBLARNIR
4.Óvænt - PURRKUR PILLNIKK
5.Rúdólf - ÞEYR
6.Creeps - Q4U
7.Breyttir Tímar - EGÓ
8.Where Are The Bodies - BODIES
9.Hrollur - TAPPI TÍKARRAS
10.Moving Up To A Motion - BARAFLOKKURINN
11.Talandi Höfuð - SPILAFÍFL
12.Í Speglinum - ÞURSAFLOKKURINN
13.Í Kirkju - FRIÐRYK
14.Lífið Og Tilveran - START
15.Gullúrið - GRÝLURNAR
16.Sat Ég Inni Á Klepp - EGÓ
17.Gluggagægir - PURKUR PILLNIKK
18.Mýrín Andar - TAPPI TÍKARRAS
19.Bereft - MOGO HOMO
20.Hver Er Svo Sekur - JONEE JONEE
21.Killer Boogie - ÞEYR
22.Miranda - TAPPI TÍKARRAS
23.Af Því Pabbi Vildi Það - JONEE JONEE
24.Í Nótt - FRÆBBBLARNIR
25.Guðfræði - VONBRIGÐI
26.Stórir Strákar - EGÓ
27.Gonna Get You - Q4U
28.Toys - Q4U
29.Lollipops - SJÁLFSFRÓUN
30.Antichrist - SJÁLFSFRÓUN
31.Sjálfsfróun - SJÁLFSFRÓUN
32.Af Litlum Neista Verður Mikið Mál - BRUNI BB
33.Rímur - SVIENBJORN BEINTEINSSON

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Q4U - Q1 1982

Today on a visit to the far north of Europe and we meet an amazingly versatile band that only made a mini-album in the early eighties but meanwhile there are some CD re-releases out and read the following information about the artists: Q4U are one of the great survivors of Icelandic music and was founded winter of 1980-1981 in Reykjavík, inspired by the British punk movement. It’s original members were Elínborg (Ellý) Halldórsdóttir (vocals), Berglind (Linda) Garðarsdóttir (vocals), Steinþór Stefánsson (guitar), Gunnþór Sigurðsson (bass), Helgi (drums) and Már (synthesizer). Helgi and Már soon left the band & Helgi was replaced by Kormákur (Kommi) Geirharðsson on drums. By early 1982 they self-released a full length cassette, “Skaf Í Dag” and appeared in the documentary Rokk í Reykjavík, which showcased the Icelandic punk scene. This version of the band ended and only two members continued on. In the summer of 1982 Ellý and Gunnþór recruited Óðinn Guðbrandsson (guitar) and Árni Daníel (synthesizer) from the band Taugadeildin. Their drummer was replaced by a Roland TR-808 drum machine they named “Elísabet II”. signaling a change in the group’s sound toward synthesizer-driven post punk. In August 1983 they reinstated Kormákur to record a final set of demos and then called it quits.

Q4U began with a stylish, aggressive Punk image before experimenting with drum machines and synthesizers, which almost nobody did in Reykjavík at the time. The later sound had gothic leanings,often compared with Siouxsie & The Banshees and X-Mal Deutschland. Their body of work is united by the powerful vocals of Ellý, who mostly sings in Icelandic about controversial, political experiences, much like Ari Up of The Slits.

In 1984-1985 the group Þetta er bara Kraftwerk (ÞEYR) continued working on similar post-punk synth music Q4U as had been working with. Ellý and Árni Daníel teamed up with Árni Daníel's little brother Ingólfur and later Óskar Þórisson joined. This group recorded a few songs as demos, but did not publish anything in its lifetime. Everybody started having families, studying or working. Then in 1996 the group came together again, under the influence of the grunge movement and the interest in punk and post-punk that blossomed at the time. Now it was decided to put together a CD with some of the unreleased material of the group and publish it. This CD, Q2, contained much of the unreleased demos from 1982, a demo from late 1982 with the synth version of the group, the EP from 1983 and the demos from August 1983. There was also one song by ÞEYR on the CD. It was published in 1997 under the name Q2. Q4U followed the publication of the CD up with a number of concerts in 1996-1998 and also with television performances, of which some are available on the YouTube. One of these is with the song Egó, which is otherwise unpublished. The line-up was Gunnþór, Ellý, Árni Daníel, Ingólfur from ÞEYR and a new drummer, Guðmundur Gunnarsson.

The group is currently rehearsing again after another thirteen years abscence, with two gigs already having taken place in 2010. (source: DarkEntriesRecords)

Consistently awesome stuff and interesting for everyone!

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ÞEYR - The Fourth Reich 12'' 1982

4th EP in form of a 12'' on Mjöt by Þeyr from Reykjavík and while the Scandinavia tour in early '82 the band gained more popularity and even managed to appear on radio and television in Denmark, they also went to a studio and recorded a few songs which were released on the 12-inch EP The Fourth Reich, in memory of Wilhelm Reich whose books had been banned by the Nazi regime. The image cover was alleged Nazi incitation because it depicted Wilhelm Reich wearing a Nazi-styled armband and the British label Shout was obligated to change the cover. However, it should be said, that the armband shown on the cover contained the symbol of the orgone physics, which represented duality and its origins in unity, referred by Reich as functionalism. On The Fourth Reich the use of percussions and rhythmical efforts were far more important than in earlier works. In this respect, the song “Zen” was particularly important due to its marked rock style, but the album did not have the impact of earlier works because the music was less accessible. In the UK the record was also released via Shout with a different cover.

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V/A - Northern Lights Playhouse 1981

This record was posted long time ago by Curious Guy on his Phoenix Hairpins blog which is unfortunately no longer active :( so I thought to repost this great compilation because it's a nice one. Released on Fálkinn in co-operation with Rough Trade and all the infos you need has Curious perfect described so click the orange letters and you will be enlightened. Search for more stuff from some bands here in the blog and listen to this sound, right for the comin' fuckin' X-mas days, hope you have a pleasant time.

1.Life Transmission - ÞEYR

2.Heima Er Best - ÞEYR

3.It's Easy - UTANGARÐSMENN

4.Where Are The Bodies? - UTANGARÐSMENN

5.Her Longing - TAUGADEILDIN

6.Tíminn - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

7.Slöggur - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

8.Læknir - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

9.Gleði - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

10.Andlit - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

11.Tilfinning - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

12.Þreyta - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

13.Grunsamlegt - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

14.Ást - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

15.John Merrick - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

16.Rebellion Of The Dwarfs - FRÆBBBLARNIR

17.No Friends - FRÆBBBLARNIR

18.It May Be Quoted - FRÆBBBLARNIR

19.Paradísarfuglinn - MEGAS

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V/A - Just When You Thought It Was... Quiet! 1982

Before I start today with ripping a very nice New Wave compilation by Quiet Records with bands from two continents, thirteen in total and each with one song. With records like this, it's like a lottery, sometimes amazingly good, and sometimes terribly bad. This stuff belongs to the successful part. A healthy mixture of fast punkie pieces, typical wave sounds and a little experimental noises and that's exactly what I like. I can't tell who sent me the file, but it was definitely a good deed. I have to do my laundry on the side and another New Wave goodie will follow later, I hope it's as refreshing as this one.

1.Goin' Uptown - KNOX

2.State Of Mind - SEX GANG CHILDREN

3.Blood - ÞEYR

4.Troops Of Tomorrow - THE TROOPS

5.Problem Child - HANOI ROCKS

6.Rush Hour - MXYZTPLK

7.Tracks Of My Tears - HALF JAPANESE

8.Decline - HËADHUNTËRS

9.Cocaine - URBAN DOGS

10.The Fish Needs A Bike - BLURT

11.Guðfræði - VONBRIGÐI

12.Big Red Brain - METHOD ACTORS

13.Other Queues - THE PROCESS

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V/A - Bad Times For A Change [WDM Special] 2014

Last compilation We made together, brings back carefree times.

1.Are You Still Here? - ÞEYR
2.Tricky Girls - WARDENS
3.I Know - DROOGIES
4.Professionals - ANA HAUSEN
5.Standing In Front Of Poseur - RED CROSS
6.Ironi - STUDENTS
7.The Spectator - CHAOTIC DIMENSION
8.Nao Me Importo (Live) - RATOS DE PORÃO
9.First In Line - MARCHING GIRLS
10.Dead Cop - SPILD AF TID
11.Adolf Hitler - KNUGEN FALLER
12.Säpinää - MAUKKA PERUSJÄTKÄ
13.Secondary Boulevard Talk - CLIT
14.Friends - CHERVONA RUTTA
15.Knark E Gott - STOCKHOLMS NEGRER
16.Flipout - LEPERS
17.No Age For Love - INDICATORS
18.Fed Up - MOUNTAIN CANNABIS
19.Me And My Baby - JERMZ
20.Hiroshima - DIRT
21.Suicide Commando - NO MORE
22.Fuck Off And Go - A.V. BLOX
23.Gehirnamputiert - EXTREM
24.I Hate America (Live) - THE WORK
25.On The Run (Live) - SLIME
26.Carl Frykborn - MANIACS
27.Nur Geträumt - NENA
28.One Way - THE ACES
29.El Nacimiento De La Industria - AVIADOR DRO
30.Living In A Coffin - LOST CHERREES
31.Snack - SYDKRAFT
32.Danny Says (Live) - JOEY RAMONE & MARKY RAMONE & THE INDEPENDENTS

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V/A - Geyser 1987

HUHHHH, usually I'm in the stadium when Dortmund comes but today not but it was an exciting game and a 2:1 is the victory for the SGE, now we are third in the league, Juhu! OK, interested none of you so let's enter "Geyser, a compilation on Enigma Records and this record is a reflection of the activities Gramm Records has been engaged in over the five past years. Gramm began its lifespan in the beginning of the most creative and inventive era in history of Iceland rock music." This is a short statement from the backcover. Twelve songs, varied styles: punk, alternative, electro, wave, gothic etc.. not bad and a decent mix. That's it for today, have a nice evening!

1.Killer Boogie - ÞEYR

2.Excuse Me/Surprise - PURRKUR PILLNIKK

3.Svartur Gítar - BUBBI & DAS KAPITAL

4.Kondór - MEGAS & ÍKARUS

5.Kjöt - VONBRIGÐI

6.Glas JONEE JONEE

7.Ad Astra - HÖH

8.Man On The Cross - KUKL

9.Citified - MICKEY DEAN & DE VUNDERFOOLZ

10.Life - STANYA

11.Edda - SVEINBJÖRN BEINTEINSSON

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