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Rating: In recent years, Iceland is emerging as a driving center from which new musical coordinates aimed at crossing/hybridizing pop rock and more or less electronic experimentation are originating.
Without mentioning Bjork, who is undoubtedly the matriarch and reigning queen of the ingenious Icelandic artists, delicate, poignant, and well-known groups like Sigur Rós and Múm still come to mind. However, this beautiful 'Something Wrong' by Bang Gang has garnered less success; behind this charming and rather playfully audacious name hides the wonderful one man band Bardi Johannsson, as ethereal and lyrical as needed to produce a small delight sumptuously wrapped in pop pathos and indie-electro openings.
An Icelandic artist, named Katrin Siguroardottir, who creates evocative environmental installations, has talked about her work expressing her desire to recreate a typical sensation of Iceland's landscape: a sense of escape, without clarifying whether the escape is from that landscape or towards it. Well, this definition is perfect for the music of the aforementioned bands, but in the case of Bang Gang, this kind of acoustic drug (melodious morphine directly from the dream market) is enhanced by a compositional ability, a type of songwriting that truly gives hope for the future.
From the first to the last track of 'Something Wrong' it feels like you're listening to a post-rock version of the Beatles, ferried into the third millennium by a George Harrison who fell deeply in love with dream-pop. How not to indulge in the airy and moving melody of "Inside", how not to be moved by the poignant finale of "There was a whisper", how not to tap your foot to the captivating and epic synth-wave of 'Something wrong'.
But all the tracks are little enchantments, especially when Bardi hands the microphone to others: indeed, wonderful is the voice of the Nordic fairy Esther Talia Casey, not to mention Nicolette (remember Three by Massive Attack? Yes, it's her) a new Billie Holiday in the raw gem between soul pop and jazzy in "Contradictions"… Well, if the album had ended here, no one would have complained, quite the contrary…
Is 'Something Wrong' then another masterpiece coming from Iceland's volcanic landscapes? Not exactly: such a compositional and evocative talent should be coupled with greater originality, but let's not ask too much; this is already a debut with mettle, and there are excellent prospects for improvement in the future.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Inside (05:39)
How can someone feel like we did out there
Have you lost the dream that was in our hands
Is it ok now (x2)
Find me
Inside every heartbeat
Inside every worry
Keep me in your heart again
Find me
Inside every heartbeat (over the hills again)
Inside every worry
Inside your heart
How can someone feel like we did out there
Have you lost the dream that was in our hands
Is it ok now
Find me
Inside every heartbeat
Inside every worry
Keep me in your heart again
Find me
Inside every heartbeat (over the hills again)
Inside every worry
Inside your heart
You ran away
And I would not stay
Is it your time
Or is it mine
Is it your time
Find me
Inside every heartbeat
Inside every worry
Keep me in your heart again
Find me
Inside every heartbeat (over the hills again)
Inside every worry
Inside your heart
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