I’m staring at a list of about 50 albums that I should really try and cover, so all I can do I guess is write a little on each and see how far I get. I’ll start with Icelandic indie dance artist Gosi who released his album about 4 weeks go, entitled 'Útúrsnúningur.'
We haven’t covered him previously, he’s an unusual indie artist who seems to take a mass of different influences into his music, and the result is a diverse album which could be categorised in any number of ways. But his Spotify description of “Tantalizing beats, poetic lyrics, sensual synths and growling guitars” seems pretty close to the mark - although I’ll have to take his word on the poetry, given Icelandic is the preferred language of choice lyrically.
To be honest opening track 'Í myrkri' doesn't grab me until the latter stages, but 'Miðjarðarhafið' is more interesting, with rhythms that could be taken from many parts of the world, and a tantalising vocal tune subtly dropped over the top. The bass lines in 'Yndisleg' meanwhile is a real treat, and over time the track has grown into a real favourite.
But it's two middle tracks in the album which intrigued me enough to ask for more detail on the lyrical content. The obviously catchy 'Alla daga' (every day) is written "about the daily routine, but everything is slightly askew, your cup of coffee kisses you on the forhead, and your cereal gently strokes your face. But despite these strange anomalies you gotta go through your day. Because its just a day like every other day. But the protagonist only makes it to the door and down the stairs before he melts and joins the water circle". I think that makes a little more sense.
Meanwhile 'Tilveran' is another track with distinct African influences, which Gosi describes as "a bit more down to earth, about growing up and dealing with existence, and everything that life throws at you. Because as soon as you settle it gets the next thing ready. About being there, getting hair everywhere, asking the same questions probably every human has asked".
'Hrafnastél' is an immediate hip pleaser, a groovy track with smooth vocals, and a quirky instrumental backdrop, as is 'Malbik', where all kinds of instruments are thrown into the mix to produce another beguiling 4 minutes of intricate rhythmic patterns, beats and tunes.
'Útúrsnúningur' is an enjoyable listen certainly, I love that range of influences, the beguiling rhythms, an approach that feels horizontally laid back, with Gosi seemingly in the midst of it all, as if he's conducting his unconventional orchestra simply by flexing his hips and vaguely gesticulating with his hands and toes. I definitely want to be in Gosi's world, rather than the one over here.
Find him on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter if you time travel back to 2017, although to be fair he's missed nothing apart from a lot of very angry people shouting into echo chambers, which doesn’t seem like his kind of thing…