Regal/Parlophone - Sept 24th
Unlike every other band from Iceland, no-one’s ever accused Jakobinarina of glacial pace, or compared their music to the elemental landscape of the North Atlantic. ‘His Lyrics Are Disastrous’, the third single on Regal from the Hafnarfjordur teenage six-piece, ensures they aren’t about to start just yet.
Jakobinarina represent a different, more universal, aspect of being young in Iceland; the tedium, frustration and powerlessness of living in a small goldfish bowl community, all expressed through fanatical adherence to colossal volume and ferocious pace.
As tight as they could be, Jakobinarina play like a hardcore band, but because of a way with a hook that is seemingly woven into the band’s DNA, end up sounding like a pop band. With their something-for-everyone mismatch of youth stylings (rocker, beatnik, indie, hip-hop, casual, new rave, sort of…) they even look like a boy band from a parallel universe of cool shit.
‘His Lyrics Are Disastrous’ is almost like a calling card for the band. It was (in an earlier more skeletal form) the lead track on their first limited edition Rough Trade 7-inch, and effortlessly embodies everything both instantly great and instantly odd about this strange, one-off band. The title may evince a bit of a do-what? double-take, but the opening guitar riff is almost Pistols-like in its oh-yes! power.
‘His Lyrics…’ is a powerful escapist fantasy for these kids from the corners and cul-de-sacs of suburban Iceland. Its slam dancing rhythms, duelling guitars and unhinged keyboard top-lines are played for sheer exhilaration. Jakobinarina not only are young, they sound young. All together now, “Le-ee-ee-eave this island for good!”.
Jakobinarina are Gunnar (vocals), Heimir (guitar), Hallberg (guitar), Bjorgvin (bass), Agust (keyboards) and Sigurdur (drums).
Jakobinarina represent a different, more universal, aspect of being young in Iceland; the tedium, frustration and powerlessness of living in a small goldfish bowl community, all expressed through fanatical adherence to colossal volume and ferocious pace.
As tight as they could be, Jakobinarina play like a hardcore band, but because of a way with a hook that is seemingly woven into the band’s DNA, end up sounding like a pop band. With their something-for-everyone mismatch of youth stylings (rocker, beatnik, indie, hip-hop, casual, new rave, sort of…) they even look like a boy band from a parallel universe of cool shit.
‘His Lyrics Are Disastrous’ is almost like a calling card for the band. It was (in an earlier more skeletal form) the lead track on their first limited edition Rough Trade 7-inch, and effortlessly embodies everything both instantly great and instantly odd about this strange, one-off band. The title may evince a bit of a do-what? double-take, but the opening guitar riff is almost Pistols-like in its oh-yes! power.
‘His Lyrics…’ is a powerful escapist fantasy for these kids from the corners and cul-de-sacs of suburban Iceland. Its slam dancing rhythms, duelling guitars and unhinged keyboard top-lines are played for sheer exhilaration. Jakobinarina not only are young, they sound young. All together now, “Le-ee-ee-eave this island for good!”.
Jakobinarina are Gunnar (vocals), Heimir (guitar), Hallberg (guitar), Bjorgvin (bass), Agust (keyboards) and Sigurdur (drums).
