Dense Time
Encyclopedia
Dense Time is an album released on December 9, 2005 by Iceland
ic guitar player Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson
.
This album contains Guðlaugur’s compositions and features some of the most important Icelandic performers, such as Magnús Þór Jónsson
(Megas), Björk
, Ragnhildur Gísladóttir, among others.
The music ranges from jazz
to post-punk
and even references to Bach
and ambient music
can be appreciated.
. Here both songs are performed by Megas
. The lyrics of “Patré” were drawn from a poem by Þór Eldon Jónsson plus additional words by Guðlaugur about magic numbers and Platonic polyhedrons. The lyrics for “Zontal” came from a poem by Þór Eldon titled “Horizontal Position” and additional lyrics by Guðlaugur which were derived from a paper about sub-nuclear structures, Platonic numbers and magic numbers.
“The Seventh Seals” was written by Guðlaugur based on the Book of Revelation
towards mid-1983 when the band Þeyr
dissolved and this work was arranged to be performed in KUKL. The song changed over the years and on this version, healer Brynjólfur Snorrason reads the New Testament
.
“Sirius” contains the text from a work by poet Einar Benediktsson and read by Guðlaugur’s stepfather Guðmundur Jónsson
, a renowned operatic singer.
“Findings” was composed in 1999 and it is Guðlaugur’s tribute to the recent deaths of his father, Óttar Hermann Guðlaugsson (1991) and his sister Vivan Hrefna Óttarsdóttir (1995). Performed by Brynjólfur Snorrason, Hafþór Ólafsson (Súkkat) and Magnús Guðmundsson (former singer of Þeyr
), this song tells the story of the gods who return back from the battle of Ragnarök as accounted on the Song of the Sybil from the ancient poetic Edda
.
“Stefjahreimur” is a work conceived in 1993 and it features Agnar Wilhelm Agnarsson reading a piece from poet Einar Benediktsson. It was a live improvisation in Studio Hljóðhamar.
“Stígðu Mig” and “Síðasta Ég” were both originally recorded in 1986 when Guðlaugur was playing with Björk in The Elgar Sisters. “Stígðu Mig” was featured on Björk’s single Venus as a Boy
(CD 2), released in August 1993 and “Síðasta Ég” was featured on Björk’s single Big Time Sensuality
(CD 1), released in November 1993 and the CD box Family Tree which was released in November 2002.
“Partir” was recorded after “Sirius” in 1999. The lyrics are by Megas who also reads the text. This song was originally called “Plasir d’amore”. “Essence” was written to get straight to the core of things, from monotony turning into variegated composition.
Dense Time is closed with “Closure” which was created in January 2005 when Guðlaugur was carrying out some improvisation experiments with three dissonant chords. The vocals were added by Guðlaugur, his daughter Hera Þöll, and Katla Rós Völudóttir. It features an unpublished piece from 1998 written after the death of Tómas Gröndal, a close friend.
. Lyrics: Þór Eldon Jónsson and Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Bass: Birgir Mogensen. Double bass: Georg Bjarnason. Piano and percussion: Davíð Þór Jónsson. DX7: Einar Arnaldur Melax. Kalimba: Sigtryggur Baldursson
.
2: Vocals: Brynjólfur Snorrason, Hafþór Ólafsson and Magnús Guðmundsson. Vibraphone and arrangement: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Trumpets and horn: Áki Ásgeirsson
. Trombone: Ingi Garðar Erlendsson and Magnús Jensson. Church bells: Hörður Áskelsson. Bass: Georg Bjarnason. Drums: Birgir Baldursson.
3: Lyrics: Einar Benediktsson. Vocals: Guðmundur Jónsson
. Guitar and vibraphone: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Steel guitar: Guðmundur Pétursson
. Horn: Hákon Leifsson. Bass: Haraldur Þorsteinsson.
4: Lyrics: Þór Eldon Jónsson and Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Vocals: Magnús Þór Jónsson. Guitars: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson, Guðmundur Pétursson and Þorsteinn Magnússon. Piano: Davíð Þór Jónsson. Bass: Tómas Magnús Tómasson. Drums: Arnar Guðjónsson.
5: Vocals: Brynjólfur Snorrason, Hafþór Ólafsson and Magnús Guðmundsson. Piano and guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Horn: Hákon Leifsson. Double bass: Georg Bjarnason and Óttar Sæmundsen.
6: Lyrics: Einar Benediktsson. Vocals and translation: Agnar Wilhelm Agnarsson. Guitar and bass: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Steel guitar: Guðmundur Pétursson. Church bells and drums: Arnar Guðjónsson.
7: Lyrics: Þór Eldon Jónsson. Vocals and melody: Björk Guðmundsdóttir
. Guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson.
8: Vocals: Magnús Þór Jónsson and Ragnhildur Gísladóttir. Prose: Magnús Þór Jónsson. Piano and xylophone: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Bass: Georg Bjarnason. Percussion: Davíð Þór Jónsson.
9: Lyrics: Þór Eldon Jónsson. Vocals, harpsichord and melody: Björk Guðmundsdóttir. Guitars: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson.
10: Guitar and sonar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Percussion, moog and sonar: Davíð Þór Jónsson. Modulator: Guðmundur Pétursson. Synthesizer: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
. Bass: Tómas Magnús Tómasson.
11: Vocals: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson, Hera Þöll Guðlaugsdóttir and Katla Rós Völudóttir. Guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Trumpets: Áki Ásgeirsson. Bass: Tómas Magnús Tómasson. Drums: Arnar Guðjónsson.
.
Engineers: Árni Benediksson, Arnar Guðjónsson, Guðmundur Pétursson
, Kristján Rafn, Magnús Jenson, Mel Jefferson and Jens Hansson.
Management: Árni Benediksson and Stefán Ingólfsson.
Album design: Kolbeinn Hugi Höskuldsson.
Booklet: Jón Proppe.
Publisher: Helgi Jónsson.
Distributor: Smekkleysa.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic guitar player Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson
Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson
Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson , guitar player and engineer. He is a mathematician, an inventor, a practising polytechnic engineer, lecturer and the author of several scientific papers....
.
This album contains Guðlaugur’s compositions and features some of the most important Icelandic performers, such as Magnús Þór Jónsson
Megas
Megas , is a rock and roll singer, songwriter and writer who is well-known in his native country of Iceland.-Interest in music:...
(Megas), Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, Ragnhildur Gísladóttir, among others.
The music ranges from jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
to post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
and even references to Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and ambient music
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
can be appreciated.
Songs
“Zontal” and “Patre” were songs originally recorded when Guðlaugur was playing with singer Björk in a parallel project to their band KUKL known as The Elgar SistersThe Elgar Sisters
The Elgar Sisters was an Icelandic duo formed by singer Björk Guðmundsdóttir and guitarist Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson in 1984. The Elgar Sisters coexisted with KUKL, another group they were part of....
. Here both songs are performed by Megas
Megas
Megas , is a rock and roll singer, songwriter and writer who is well-known in his native country of Iceland.-Interest in music:...
. The lyrics of “Patré” were drawn from a poem by Þór Eldon Jónsson plus additional words by Guðlaugur about magic numbers and Platonic polyhedrons. The lyrics for “Zontal” came from a poem by Þór Eldon titled “Horizontal Position” and additional lyrics by Guðlaugur which were derived from a paper about sub-nuclear structures, Platonic numbers and magic numbers.
“The Seventh Seals” was written by Guðlaugur based on the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
towards mid-1983 when the band Þeyr
Þeyr
Þeyr was a renowned Icelandic 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...
dissolved and this work was arranged to be performed in KUKL. The song changed over the years and on this version, healer Brynjólfur Snorrason reads the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
.
“Sirius” contains the text from a work by poet Einar Benediktsson and read by Guðlaugur’s stepfather Guðmundur Jónsson
Guðmundur Jónsson
Guðmundur Jónsson is an Icelandic architect who lives in Norway.He was educated at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and ILAUD in Italy in autumn 1979...
, a renowned operatic singer.
“Findings” was composed in 1999 and it is Guðlaugur’s tribute to the recent deaths of his father, Óttar Hermann Guðlaugsson (1991) and his sister Vivan Hrefna Óttarsdóttir (1995). Performed by Brynjólfur Snorrason, Hafþór Ólafsson (Súkkat) and Magnús Guðmundsson (former singer of Þeyr
Þeyr
Þeyr was a renowned Icelandic 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...
), this song tells the story of the gods who return back from the battle of Ragnarök as accounted on the Song of the Sybil from the ancient poetic Edda
Edda
The term Edda applies to the Old Norse Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, both of which were written down in Iceland during the 13th century in Icelandic, although they contain material from earlier traditional sources, reaching into the Viking Age...
.
“Stefjahreimur” is a work conceived in 1993 and it features Agnar Wilhelm Agnarsson reading a piece from poet Einar Benediktsson. It was a live improvisation in Studio Hljóðhamar.
“Stígðu Mig” and “Síðasta Ég” were both originally recorded in 1986 when Guðlaugur was playing with Björk in The Elgar Sisters. “Stígðu Mig” was featured on Björk’s single Venus as a Boy
Venus as a Boy
"Venus as a Boy" is a song by Björk, released as the second single from her 1993 album Debut.-Background:Björk explained in an interview with David Hemingway:...
(CD 2), released in August 1993 and “Síðasta Ég” was featured on Björk’s single Big Time Sensuality
Big Time Sensuality
"Big Time Sensuality" is a song by Björk, released as the fourth single from her 1993 album Debut. The song helped boost Björk's popularity worldwide, particularly the U.S., where she charted for the first time.-Background:...
(CD 1), released in November 1993 and the CD box Family Tree which was released in November 2002.
“Partir” was recorded after “Sirius” in 1999. The lyrics are by Megas who also reads the text. This song was originally called “Plasir d’amore”. “Essence” was written to get straight to the core of things, from monotony turning into variegated composition.
Dense Time is closed with “Closure” which was created in January 2005 when Guðlaugur was carrying out some improvisation experiments with three dissonant chords. The vocals were added by Guðlaugur, his daughter Hera Þöll, and Katla Rós Völudóttir. It features an unpublished piece from 1998 written after the death of Tómas Gröndal, a close friend.
Track listing
| Track | Title | Length | Vocals | Lyrics | Audio clips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zontal | 04:22 | Megas Megas Megas , is a rock and roll singer, songwriter and writer who is well-known in his native country of Iceland.-Interest in music:... |
link | full mp3 |
| 02 | Seventh Seal | 05:12 | Brynjólfur Snorrason, Magnús Guðmundsson and Hafþór Ólafsson |
link | - |
| 03 | Sirius | 04:24 | Guðmundur Jónsson Guðmundur Jónsson Guðmundur Jónsson is an Icelandic architect who lives in Norway.He was educated at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and ILAUD in Italy in autumn 1979... |
- | - |
| 04 | Patre | 03:56 | Megas Megas Megas , is a rock and roll singer, songwriter and writer who is well-known in his native country of Iceland.-Interest in music:... |
link | - |
| 05 | Findings | 05:52 | Hafþór Ólafsson, Magnús Guðmundsson and Brynjólfur Snorrason |
- | - |
| 06 | Stefjahreimur | 06:25 | Agnar Wilhelm Agnarsson | - | - |
| 07 | Stígðu Mig | 01:44 | Björk Guðmundsdóttir Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk... |
link | mp3 sample |
| 08 | Partir | 06:04 | Megas Megas Megas , is a rock and roll singer, songwriter and writer who is well-known in his native country of Iceland.-Interest in music:... and Ragnhildur Gísladóttir |
- | - |
| 09 | Síðasta Ég | 02:55 | Björk Guðmundsdóttir Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk... |
link | mp3 sample |
| 10 | Essence | 04:33 | instrumental | - | - |
| 11 | Closure | 03:48 | Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson , guitar player and engineer. He is a mathematician, an inventor, a practising polytechnic engineer, lecturer and the author of several scientific papers.... , Hera Þöll Guðlaugsdóttir and Katla Rós Völudóttir |
- | - |
Performers
1: Vocals: Magnús Þór JónssonMegas
Megas , is a rock and roll singer, songwriter and writer who is well-known in his native country of Iceland.-Interest in music:...
. Lyrics: Þór Eldon Jónsson and Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Bass: Birgir Mogensen. Double bass: Georg Bjarnason. Piano and percussion: Davíð Þór Jónsson. DX7: Einar Arnaldur Melax. Kalimba: Sigtryggur Baldursson
Sigtryggur Baldursson
Sigtryggur Baldursson is an Icelandic drummer and singer.Sigtryggur was born in Norway to Icelandic parents. He was a founding member of the Sugarcubes and has been a longtime fixture on the Icelandic punk and alternative music scene. Other bands he has played in have included Þeyr, KUKL,...
.
2: Vocals: Brynjólfur Snorrason, Hafþór Ólafsson and Magnús Guðmundsson. Vibraphone and arrangement: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Trumpets and horn: Áki Ásgeirsson
Áki Ásgeirsson
Áki Ásgeirsson is a musician who was born in 1975 in Keflavík, Iceland. He studied at the Keflavík Music School, the Reykjavík College of Music and the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, The Netherlands and currently lives in Reykjavík....
. Trombone: Ingi Garðar Erlendsson and Magnús Jensson. Church bells: Hörður Áskelsson. Bass: Georg Bjarnason. Drums: Birgir Baldursson.
3: Lyrics: Einar Benediktsson. Vocals: Guðmundur Jónsson
Guðmundur Jónsson
Guðmundur Jónsson is an Icelandic architect who lives in Norway.He was educated at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and ILAUD in Italy in autumn 1979...
. Guitar and vibraphone: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Steel guitar: Guðmundur Pétursson
Guðmundur Pétursson
Guðmundur Pétursson is an Icelandic footballer. He is a forward and is currently under contract at Breiðablik. He has also played for Iceland at under-21 level.-ÍR :...
. Horn: Hákon Leifsson. Bass: Haraldur Þorsteinsson.
4: Lyrics: Þór Eldon Jónsson and Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Vocals: Magnús Þór Jónsson. Guitars: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson, Guðmundur Pétursson and Þorsteinn Magnússon. Piano: Davíð Þór Jónsson. Bass: Tómas Magnús Tómasson. Drums: Arnar Guðjónsson.
5: Vocals: Brynjólfur Snorrason, Hafþór Ólafsson and Magnús Guðmundsson. Piano and guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Horn: Hákon Leifsson. Double bass: Georg Bjarnason and Óttar Sæmundsen.
6: Lyrics: Einar Benediktsson. Vocals and translation: Agnar Wilhelm Agnarsson. Guitar and bass: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Steel guitar: Guðmundur Pétursson. Church bells and drums: Arnar Guðjónsson.
7: Lyrics: Þór Eldon Jónsson. Vocals and melody: Björk Guðmundsdóttir
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
. Guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson.
8: Vocals: Magnús Þór Jónsson and Ragnhildur Gísladóttir. Prose: Magnús Þór Jónsson. Piano and xylophone: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Bass: Georg Bjarnason. Percussion: Davíð Þór Jónsson.
9: Lyrics: Þór Eldon Jónsson. Vocals, harpsichord and melody: Björk Guðmundsdóttir. Guitars: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson.
10: Guitar and sonar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Percussion, moog and sonar: Davíð Þór Jónsson. Modulator: Guðmundur Pétursson. Synthesizer: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson , also known as HÖH , is a musician, an art director, and allsherjargoði of Ásatrúarfélagið ....
. Bass: Tómas Magnús Tómasson.
11: Vocals: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson, Hera Þöll Guðlaugsdóttir and Katla Rós Völudóttir. Guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Trumpets: Áki Ásgeirsson. Bass: Tómas Magnús Tómasson. Drums: Arnar Guðjónsson.
Personnel
Producers: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson, Arnar Guðjónsson and Guðmundur PéturssonGuðmundur Pétursson
Guðmundur Pétursson is an Icelandic footballer. He is a forward and is currently under contract at Breiðablik. He has also played for Iceland at under-21 level.-ÍR :...
.
Engineers: Árni Benediksson, Arnar Guðjónsson, Guðmundur Pétursson
Guðmundur Pétursson
Guðmundur Pétursson is an Icelandic footballer. He is a forward and is currently under contract at Breiðablik. He has also played for Iceland at under-21 level.-ÍR :...
, Kristján Rafn, Magnús Jenson, Mel Jefferson and Jens Hansson.
Management: Árni Benediksson and Stefán Ingólfsson.
Album design: Kolbeinn Hugi Höskuldsson.
Booklet: Jón Proppe.
Publisher: Helgi Jónsson.
Distributor: Smekkleysa.