This Reykjavik duo - sometimes operating as a five-piece band - represent the next generation of Icelandic bands.
They’re led by Kaktus Einarsson, the son of Einar Örn from Björk’s old band The Sugarcubes. With guitarist Gulli Einarsson (no relation), he makes glowering post-punk that has earned his band support slots with Damon Albarn and The Vaccines.
There’s something of Graham Coxon’s seasick guitar in the woozy twang of Wire Skulls. In a portentous voice, Kaktus presides over songs that largely abandon verse-chorus structure in favour of slow-building grooves.
In the Light of the Night takes four minutes to get to its guitar eruption, but it’s worth the wait.
The wall of noise is at its biggest on the closing song, Goodbye, the moment when all that menace becomes something a little more fun.
(One Little Indian)
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