Iceland's Indie Music Scene

Iceland is host to a very creative and diverse mucic scene. Awe-inspiring music like Bjork and Sigur Ros hail from this mystic island, but there are countless bands who call Iceland home. The indie mucic scene thrives among Iceland's booming local music culture.

Here are a few lesser known Icelandic indie bands who deserve some recognition:

Gus Gus- This group has an extremely diverse sound. Gus Gus started out in Iceland as a 9 piece band. 6 members left and the remaining 3 signed on Urdur Hakonardottir (aka DJ Earth) who now sings female vocals. She has a sexy voice, but not quite as fresh and breathy as Hafdis Huld the original female singer. Although Gus Gus has an original electronic sound, non-electronica fans seem to dig this group as well.

Suggested Album: Polydistortion-- There's not a single poor track on Gus Gus's debut album. It combines electronics with catchy melodies and great lyrics.

Suggested Song: Why?- It's stunning and soulful and will make you want to wrap your arms around someone you love.

Mugison- One man band consisting of Örn Elías Guðmundsson. Mugison uses a guitar and a computer to create abstract psychedelic melodies. At times he appears mad and bordering insanity, but other times he can appear so brilliant and so heart-wrenching that you don't know whether to compare him to Tom Waits or Damien Rice.

Suggested Album: Mugimama is this Monkey Music- This album is an experimental experience. It will make you laugh, cringe, dance, shake your head in disbelief and sigh simultaneously. Not for the faint-hearted. Mugison's wife adds gripping vocals to many of these haunting tracks.

Suggested Song: Murr Murr- This song will certainly have you pounding your feet. Murr Murr won song of the year at 2004 Iceland Music Awards.

Mum- Comprised of Gunnar Orn Tynes, Orvar Poreyjarson Smarason, and two classically-trained twin sisters, Kristin Anna and Gyda Valtysdottir. It's electronica music but with a more modern folk feel. The tracks are eerie at times, combining sounds of childhood memories: music boxes and carnival rides.

Suggested Album: The Peel Session [EP] - Only 4 songs but it doesn't feel tedious like most EPs

Suggested Song: Awake on a Train or Ballad of a Broken String. Actually, you can't go wrong with any song on this EP. Play the entire Peel Session over and over.

Other Iceland Band I suggest checking out are The Funerals, Sugarcubes, Slowblow, Worm is Green, and Amiina.