Álafoss
Encyclopedia
Sundlaugin (ˈsʏntløijɪn, the swimming pool) is a recording studio
located near Álafoss
, in the town of Mosfellsbær
in Iceland
. It was converted from a drained, abandoned swimming pool built in the 1930s and adjacent buildings. It is owned by the post-rock
band Sigur Rós
.
The band originally intended to record
in an abandoned NATO tracking base in the northernmost mountain in Iceland, but after inspection decided it was too impractical. Shortly after they found the abandoned pool lot in a rural neighborhood in Mosfellsbær. They bought the lot and transformed it into a studio. In order to fit the massive mixing console
into the building, part of the roof was opened up and the console was lowered with a crane.
Much of the band's photography and artwork is taken from the surrounding landscape, perhaps most notably the art found on the first album recorded in the studio, .
The recording studio has also been used for recording, mixing and mastering (usually assisted by the studio's sound engineer Birgir Jón "Biggi" Birgisson) by a wide group of other, mainly icelandic, artists including Agent Fresco
, The Album Leaf
, amiina
, Amusement Parks on Fire
, Andŕum, Beneath, Benni Hemm Hemm, Bubbi Morthens
, End of a Year
, Jakobínarína
, Kira Kira, Mugison
, Múm
, Ólöf Arnalds
, Pétur Ben, Retro Stefson, Ske
, Slowblow
, Steindór Andersen
, Storsveit Nix Noltes
, For a Minor Reflection
.
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
located near Álafoss
Álafoss
Sundlaugin is a recording studio located near Álafoss, in the town of Mosfellsbær in Iceland. It was converted from a drained, abandoned swimming pool built in the 1930s and adjacent buildings...
, in the town of Mosfellsbær
Mosfellsbær
Mosfellsbær is a town in south-west Iceland, situated some east of the country's capital, Reykjavík. It has a total area of and its population as of September, 2011 was 8,886....
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...
. It was converted from a drained, abandoned swimming pool built in the 1930s and adjacent buildings. It is owned by the post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
band 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...
.
The band originally intended to record
is the third full-length album from Icelandic band Sigur Rós, first released in October 2002. It comprises eight untitled tracks, divided into two parts: the first four tracks are lighter and more optimistic, while the latter four are bleaker and more melancholic. The two halves are divided by a...
in an abandoned NATO tracking base in the northernmost mountain in Iceland, but after inspection decided it was too impractical. Shortly after they found the abandoned pool lot in a rural neighborhood in Mosfellsbær. They bought the lot and transformed it into a studio. In order to fit the massive mixing console
Mixing console
In professional audio, a mixing console, or audio mixer, also called a sound board, mixing desk, or mixer is an electronic device for combining , routing, and changing the level, timbre and/or dynamics of audio signals. A mixer can mix analog or digital signals, depending on the type of mixer...
into the building, part of the roof was opened up and the console was lowered with a crane.
Much of the band's photography and artwork is taken from the surrounding landscape, perhaps most notably the art found on the first album recorded in the studio, .
The recording studio has also been used for recording, mixing and mastering (usually assisted by the studio's sound engineer Birgir Jón "Biggi" Birgisson) by a wide group of other, mainly icelandic, artists including Agent Fresco
Agent Fresco
Agent Fresco are an Icelandic "polyrythmic oddtime rock with jazz and funk influence" band formed in 2008 just weeks prior to competing in the Músíktilraunir which they won. They also won ‘best guitar’, ‘best drumming’ and ‘best bass playing’...
, The Album Leaf
The Album Leaf
The Album Leaf is an American solo musical project founded in San Diego, California in 1998 by Jimmy LaValle. He is known for his use of electronics, synthesizer and Rhodes piano...
, amiina
Amiina
Amiina is an Icelandic band composed of Hildur Ársælsdóttir , Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir , Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir , and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir . They frequently perform live and in the studio along with Sigur Rós...
, Amusement Parks on Fire
Amusement Parks on Fire
Amusement Parks on Fire are a shoegaze band from Nottingham, England.The band was formed by Michael Feerick in 2004, who wrote and performed all the instruments for the self-titled debut album...
, Andŕum, Beneath, Benni Hemm Hemm, Bubbi Morthens
Bubbi Morthens
Bubbi Morthens , is a singer and songwriter from Iceland. His name of birth is Ásbjörn Kristinsson Morthens, Bubbi being the affectionate form of Ásbjörn.- History :...
, End of a Year
End of a Year
End of a Year are a post-hardcore/punk outfit based in Cohoes, New York. The band has released three full length albums and several EPs....
, Jakobínarína
Jakobínarína
Jakobínarína were an Icelandic six-piece indie-punk band, signed to record label Regal Recordings, through Parlophone Records. All members of the band are aged between 17 and 21 years old and originate from the town of Hafnarfjörður...
, Kira Kira, Mugison
Mugison
Mugison is an Icelandic musician and singer who originally performed as a one-man band using a guitar and computer, but now often performs with a band. He studied in London to become a record producer....
, Múm
Múm
múm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
, Ólöf Arnalds
Ólöf Arnalds
Ólöf Arnalds is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and indie musician who has been active within the Icelandic music scene for quite some time. Apart from her own music and being a touring member of Múm since 2003, she has cooperated with bands and artists such as Stórsveit Nix Noltes, Mugison,...
, Pétur Ben, Retro Stefson, Ske
Ske
Ske is an Icelandic band whose origins can be traced back to 1992, when a band called Skárren ekkert was founded by Eiríkur Þorleifsson, Frank Hall and Guðmundur Steingrímsson, and joined by Hrannar Ingimarsson in 1998....
, Slowblow
Slowblow
Slowblow is an Icelandic musical duo consisting of Orri Jónsson and Dagur Kári Pétursson. Their music is an aesthetic of home-made, lo-fi analog tinkerings, which often slips into both electronic and folksy terrain. They began recording in the mid 1990s and have made several albums together...
, Steindór Andersen
Steindór Andersen
Steindór Andersen is an Icelandic musician.Andersen is noted for his Rímur chanting, and is most widely known for his collaborations with the band Sigur Rós...
, Storsveit Nix Noltes
Stórsveit Nix Noltes
Stórsveit Nix Noltes are an Icelandic post-rock and Balkan folk band formed in 2004 and composed mostly of members of other Icelandic bands such as múm and Benni Hemm Hemm...
, For a Minor Reflection
For a minor reflection
For a Minor Reflection is a post-rock band from Reykjavík, Iceland. The band comprises four 20-year-olds. Their self-produced debut album Reistu þig við, sólin er komin á loft... featuring six songs lasting an hour in total, all recorded over a weekend in Iceland...
.