Kimono (band)
Encyclopedia
kimono is an Iceland
ic-Canadian math rock
band composed of singer-guitarist Alex MacNeil, guitarist-bassist Gylfi Blöndal and drummer Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason. Their third studio album, Easy Music for Difficult People, was released by Kimi Records on December 4, 2009. The album has topped many "Best of 2009" lists with journalists in Iceland and has yet to be released outside of Iceland.
). The band relocated for a year to Berlin to facilitate touring in support of their second record and were named one of the top bands to watch in 2006 by Intro magazine. Ragnarsson left in 2007 to pursue his painting career. kimono has continued since then as a trio (with Blöndal playing baritone guitar
).
The band released two albums on the Icelandic independent record label, Bad Taste
(the Sugarcubes-owned label in operation since 1986), mineur aggressif in 2003 and Arctic Death Ship in 2005. The latter was nominated for Rock Album of the Year (in Icelandic, "hljómplata ársins") at the Icelandic Music Awards in 2005, but lost out to Takk...
by Sigur Rós
. A dub version of their debut album, curver + kimono, was released by the band and the producer of that record, Curver
, in 2007.
Their latest album, Easy Music for Difficult People, is released by Kimi Records, an alternative record label based in Iceland that has released many of the latest up-and-coming Icelandic independent artists (such as Sin Fang Bous
and Borko
) many of whom are also released internationally by Morr Music
. The first two singles released from Easy Music for Difficult People, "Black" and "Wire" have been successful in radio airplay in Iceland.
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-Canadian math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
band composed of singer-guitarist Alex MacNeil, guitarist-bassist Gylfi Blöndal and drummer Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason. Their third studio album, Easy Music for Difficult People, was released by Kimi Records on December 4, 2009. The album has topped many "Best of 2009" lists with journalists in Iceland and has yet to be released outside of Iceland.
History
kimono formed in 2001 in Reykjavik, Iceland, after the breakup of a post-rock instrumental band called Kaktus. Some of the members of that band continued in kimono including guitarist Blöndal, drummer Thráinn Óskarsson and bassist Halldór Ragnarsson. Óskarsson left the band in 2003 to concentrate on his other project, Hudson Wayne, and was replaced by Kjartan Bragi Bjarnason (also of SeabearSeabear
Seabear is a Icelandic seven piece indie-folk band from Reykjavik, Iceland. Although hailing from Iceland, they sing primarily in English. They are signed to the Morr Music record label....
). The band relocated for a year to Berlin to facilitate touring in support of their second record and were named one of the top bands to watch in 2006 by Intro magazine. Ragnarsson left in 2007 to pursue his painting career. kimono has continued since then as a trio (with Blöndal playing baritone guitar
Baritone guitar
The baritone guitar is a variation on the standard guitar, with a longer scale length that allows it to be tuned to a lower range. It first appeared in the classical music realm...
).
The band released two albums on the Icelandic independent record label, Bad Taste
Bad Taste (record label)
Bad Taste is one of Iceland’s most important record labels; located in Reykjavík and known worldwide for being home to The Sugarcubes, it also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts...
(the Sugarcubes-owned label in operation since 1986), mineur aggressif in 2003 and Arctic Death Ship in 2005. The latter was nominated for Rock Album of the Year (in Icelandic, "hljómplata ársins") at the Icelandic Music Awards in 2005, but lost out to Takk...
Takk...
Takk... is the fourth full-length studio album by the Icelandic band Sigur Rós. The first singles, "Glósóli" and "Sæglópur", were released on August 15, 2005 and August 16, 2005 respectively, the former worldwide and the latter only in the United States. The single "Hoppípolla" was released in the...
by Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
. A dub version of their debut album, curver + kimono, was released by the band and the producer of that record, Curver
Curver
Curver is an Icelandic artist/musician, born in 1976. He has divided his time between general art making and music since his career started, around 1990. He is presently a member in the duo Ghostigital along with Einar Örn Benediktsson, a former member of The Sugarcubes...
, in 2007.
Their latest album, Easy Music for Difficult People, is released by Kimi Records, an alternative record label based in Iceland that has released many of the latest up-and-coming Icelandic independent artists (such as Sin Fang Bous
Seabear
Seabear is a Icelandic seven piece indie-folk band from Reykjavik, Iceland. Although hailing from Iceland, they sing primarily in English. They are signed to the Morr Music record label....
and Borko
Borko
Björn Kristiansson alias Borko is an Icelandic musician. His debut album Celebrating Life was released in March, 2008 on record labels Morr Music and Kimi Records. Borko and band toured with the Icelandic bands Múm and Seabear in 2008.-External links:...
) many of whom are also released internationally by Morr Music
Morr Music
Morr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
. The first two singles released from Easy Music for Difficult People, "Black" and "Wire" have been successful in radio airplay in Iceland.
Albums
- mineur aggressif CD (Smekkleysa, 2003)
- Arctic Death Ship CD (Smekkleysa, 2005)
- curver + kimono CD (Tími, 2007)
- Easy Music for Difficult People CD (Kimi Records, 2009)
External links
- Official kimono site
- kimono at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- kimono at Last.fmLast.fmLast.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
- kimono YouTube channel