GusGus

GusGus
Background information
Origin Reykjavík, Iceland
Genres Electronic music, House
Years active 1995—
Labels 4AD, Kompakt
Website gusgus.com
Members
Stephan Stephensen, Birgir Þórarinsson, Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson, Urður Hákonardóttir and Högni Egilsson
Past members

Sigurður Kjartansson, Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson, Magnús Guðmundsson, Magnús Jónsson, Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir, Baldur Stefánsson, Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir, Ragnheiður Axel, Heiðrún Anna Björnsdóttir

Music sample
"Purple"

GusGus are a band from Reykjavík, Iceland.[1] They were founded in 1995. Their discography consists of eight studio albums and one live record.

Contents

History

Initially formed as a film and acting collective, the group became mostly known for their electronic music. GusGus have had a varied lineup, including:

Several lineup changes have occurred, and their current incarnation consists of three members (President Bongo, Biggi Veira and Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson). After their third album, This Is Normal, the filmmaking arm of GusGus (Kjartansson and Árni Þorgeirsson) split off to form the production company Celebrator, now known as Arni & Kinski,[2] which has produced award-winning advertisements and videos. A few former members such as Hafdís Huld, Blake, and Daníel Ágúst have gone solo, most notably though Emilíana Torrini, who provided a song for the soundtrack to Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

GusGus' music is eclectic, and although primarily classified with techno, trip-hop and house music, they have experimented with numerous other styles. They have also remixed several famous artists, including Björk, Depeche Mode, Moloko, and Sigur Rós. Added to this they released the song "Desire" with Ian Brown in January 2004. A remix of the track "Purple" appeared in remixed form on Paul Oakenfold's successful trance compilation called Tranceport.

The band's name refers to the 1974 German film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, where a female character is cooking couscous for her lover, pronouncing it "Gus Gus". The band regards it as a "sex reference".[3]

Band members

1995
  • Stephan Stephensen
  • Birgir Þórarinsson
  • Sigurður Kjartansson
  • Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson
  • Magnús Guðmundsson
  • Daniel Ágúst Haraldsson
  • Magnús Jónsson
  • Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir
  • Baldur Stefánsson
  • Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir
  • Ragnheiður Axel
  • Heiðrún Anna Björnsdóttir
1996–1999
  • Stephan Stephensen
  • Birgir Þórarinsson
  • Sigurður Kjartansson
  • Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson
  • Magnús Guðmundsson
  • Daniel Ágúst Haraldsson
  • Magnús Jónsson
  • Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir
  • Baldur Stefánsson
2000
  • Stephan Stephensen
  • Birgir Þórarinsson
2001–2006
  • Stephan Stephensen
  • Birgir Þórarinsson
  • Urður Hákonardóttir
  • Magnús Guðmundsson
2007
  • Stephan Stephensen
  • Birgir Þórarinsson
  • Urður Hákonardóttir
2008
  • Stephan Stephensen
  • Birgir Þórarinsson
2009–2010
  • Stephan Stephensen
  • Birgir Þórarinsson
  • Daniel Ágúst Haraldsson
2011–onwards
  • Stephan Stephensen
  • Birgir Þórarinsson
  • Daniel Ágúst Haraldsson
  • Urður Hákonardóttir
  • Högni Egilsson

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

Singles

See also

References

  1. ^ Gusgus
  2. ^ Arni & Kinski | Biography
  3. ^ Gus Gus Interview with Nina Asseng, Berlin 2007 (comment by Daníel Ágúst, starting at 5:30)

External links