GusGus - Arabian Horse

    GusGus – Arabian Horse

    26 Mar

    By

    Genre: Electronic, Pop
    Style: Progressive House, House, Downtempo, Tech House
    Year: 2011

    Where did those old Krautrockers end up?

    There you are at a Neil Young or a David Bowie Concert and the old original fans rock up. The Bowie fans are some of the best as they bring out the 1972 full Ziggy with platform soles. The newer work fans look at these Space Oddities and smile. We are all tribespeople musically.

    So if you’re an old Krautrocker where do all your Tangerine Dreams end up? Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream has been assimilated into the cosmos, Kraftwerk is almost run by actual robots these days with new compositions almost extinct.

    Cast off from the Hyperborean constraints the empty hulks must have been washed by ocean currents to crash ashore on the North Atlantic volcanic outcrop of Iceland.

    I’m not talking presets here. Actual new patches and organic synth sounds being created from the ether (or Ethernet). Depeche Mode – yep they knew how to make new sounds but are stadium fillers now.

    Where are the Froese/Baumann, Hutter/Schneider, Gore/Wilder’s of the world? Somewhere these new electronic artists are creating new sounds to breakthrough our consciousness and become regular plays on our playlists.

    Thanks to their international influence, Iceland’s musical scene today largely consists of an art-pop, electronic and avant-rock sound. Sometimes described as the queen of experimental pop, Björk has had an influence on the modern musical culture of Iceland that can’t be overstated.

    Ólafur Arnalds is another electronic composer from Iceland who is wowing audiences worldwide with an almost classical sound from Chopin and Schubert but done with synths and acoustic piano.

    Of course, the heavier dark arts of the metal workers has gained notoriety but perhaps lesser known are the electronic music pioneers which have been creating “Airwaves” from that rocky lava outcrop.

    Gus Gus are an ever changing collection of strong willed artists who alternatively meld and clash to produce amazing works for musical art. Gus Gus was initially formed in 1995 as a film and acting collective. The band’s name refers to the 1974 German film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (German: Angst essen seele auf) by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, where a female character is cooking couscous for her lover, pronouncing it Gusgus.

    Membership in the band has varied, and included:

    Birgir Þórarinsson (aka Biggi Veira or Biggo)
    Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson
    Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir
    Magnús Jónsson (aka Blake)
    Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir
    Urður Hákonardóttir (aka Earth)
    Högni Egilsson
    Magnús Guðmundsson (aka Maggi Lego, Herb Legowitz)
    Stephan Stephensen (aka President Bongo)
    Sigurður Kjartansson (aka Siggi Kinski)
    Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson
    Baldur Stefánsson (Director of Financial Arts, aka DJ Tekno Jörgensen)
    Ragnheiður Axel
    Páll Garðarsson

    This sounds like the boarding pass manifesto to a Viking raiding party heading off for England in 793. I guess the modern day Vikings are now invading our airwaves and brainwaves.

    Gusgus’ music is eclectic, and although primarily classified as techno, trip hop, and house music, the band has experimented with other styles. It has also remixed Björk, Depeche Mode, Moloko, Sigur Rós and Vok. Emilíana Torrini provided a song for the soundtrack of Peter Jackson’s film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

    The two main stalwarts seem to be Biggi Veira and Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson. Biggi is known for his work behind the desk operating the patchwork of Doepfer synths and Abelton controllers with Daniel providing the vocals.

    Nicely produced, with refreshing dynamic range, and thought-out scores. It can generate a full body workout for the stereo system with bottomless bass and fine micro detailed fills in the sonic mix to push your tweeters into unfamiliar territory. Definitely lights out sessions.

    If you’ve not contemplated “doof” as a viable music art form then try some Gus Gus. It is low-in-fat, low-in-calories and is a slow-release carbohydrate which means it takes longer to release energy in the body which will keep you fuller for longer. Ready in just 5 mins, it’s also much quicker than your standard side dish of 1970’s electronica.

    Can accompany a side dish of workout or a big hearty breakfast run on a Sunday morning blast on that twisty road to the Black Stump in the 356 replica.

    Time for the old Krautrocker in us to get some new clothes and modernise the audio wardrobe!

    Track listing

    Selfoss 5:42
    Be With Me 5:10
    Deep Inside 4:47
    Over 5:54
    Within You 5:38
    Arabian Horse 6:03
    Magnified Love 4:54
    Changes Come 7:33
    When Your Lover’s Gone 5:24
    Benched 8:20

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