Kukl | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Reykjavík, Iceland |
Genres | Post-punk |
Years active | 1983–1986 |
Labels | |
Past members | Björk Guðmundsdóttir Einar Örn Benediktsson Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson Sigtryggur Baldursson Birgir Mogensen Einar Arnaldur Melax |
Kukl (often stylized as KUKL or K.U.K.L.) was an Icelandic post-punk group in the 1980s, most notable for being one of Björk's first bands.
The band formed in August 1983 when Ásmundur Jónsson from Gramm Records wanted to create an avant-garde supergroup to perform on the final episode of a radio show called Áfangar. He assembled vocalist Björk Guðmundsdóttir of Exodus and Tappi Tíkarrass, trumpeter and vocalist Einar Örn Benediktsson (a.k.a. Einar Ørn) of Purrkur Pillnikk, keyboardist Einar Arnaldur Melax from the surrealistic group Medúsa, and bassist Birgir Mogensen from Spilafífl, as well as drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson (a.k.a. Trix) and guitarist Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson (a.k.a. God Krist) from the band Þeyr.
After two weeks of writing and rehearsals, the band played the radio session. Their ensuing enthusiasm for the experience led to a decision to make the group permanent. [1]
Kukl's first live show was on September 20, 1983, opening for Crass in Reykjavík, followed shortly after by their first release, the 7" single "Söngull" (Gramm).
Einar Ørn had studied media at the Polytechnic of Central London, which enabled him to come in contact with UK anarcho-punk groups such as Flux of Pink Indians and Crass. This led to the 1984 release of Kukl's first album, The Eye (produced by Crass member Penny Rimbaud) on the Crass Records label. The title The Eye came from Björk’s favorite book, Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille (1928), whose plot involved the sexual adventures of a young French couple within a violent context. The album cover was illustrated by Dada Nana. The Eye contained an English-language version of “Söngull”, retitled “Dismembered”. A video clip was shot for the song “Anna”, directed by Óskar Jónasson.
A live performance from September 1984 at L'Eldorado in Paris, France yielded Kukl á Paris 14.9.84 , a cassette-only release issued in 1985 by independent French record label V.I.S.A. Kukl toured Europe during 1985, visiting the Netherlands during the Pandora's Box Festival, and Denmark during the Roskilde Festival. Later that year, Kukl and Icelandic rock singer Megas (Magnús Þór Jónsson) formed a side project called Megakukl. After creating about 20 songs, which remain unreleased, they played several concerts in Iceland.
Kukl released their second and final studio album, Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought) , on Crass Records on January 24, 1986. Two video clips were produced, "Outward Flight (Psalm 323)" and "France (A Mutual Thrill)". In a manifesto published as a Crass Records press release to announce the album, the band said:
Later that year, the band was close to an end, as different members pursued various projects. Guðthe Elgar Sisters, a group which featured musicians from Kukl (with the exception of Einar Ørn) and collaborators Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Þorsteinn Magnússon. This ensemble recorded 11 songs in 1986 and disbanded thereafter.
In the summer of 1986, Einar Ørn returned from England with two projects: the creation of a new record label, Smekkleysa/Bad Taste, and a new band, Sykurmolarnir, later translated as The Sugarcubes. As Kukl disbanded, the only members who did not continue with the new project were Mogensen and Guðlaugur. The birth of the new band coincided with the June 8, 1986 birth of Björk's son Sindri Eldon Þórsson (fathered by Medúsa guitarist Þór Eldon Jónsson).
Björk, Einar Ørn, Melax and Sigtryggur formed the Sugarcubes in 1986 with bassist Bragi Ólafsson and guitarist Friðrik Erlingsson (replaced by Þór Eldon). Melax was later replaced by Margrét Örnólfsdóttir.
Melax later formed Exem with Þorri Jóhannsson of Inferno 5, releasing the album Kjöttromman in 1995 on Smekkleysa.
After Kukl disbanded, Guðlaugur collaborated with renowned Icelandic and international artists and has performed solo guitar concerts in Iceland. As a polytechnic engineer in practice and inventor, he has also combined his music work with scientific projects and delved into quantum physics, thermoelectricity and navigational systems.
Mogensen worked for recording and video studios and joined Inferno 5, a multimedia ensemble founded by Þorri Jóh. He was asked to play bass for Killing Joke and rehearsed with them in England before Paul Raven rejoined that band. He played bass on several tracks on Exem's Kjöttromman. He later worked as a broadcast supervisor at the SkjárEinn TV station.
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band from Reykjavík formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. For most of their career, the band consisted of Björk Guðmundsdóttir, Einar Örn Benediktsson, Þór Eldon (guitar), Bragi Ólafsson (bass), Margrét "Magga" Örnólfsdóttir (keyboards) and Sigtryggur Baldursson (drums). Previous members included Friðrik Erlingsson (guitar) and Einar Melax (keyboards).
Bragi Ólafsson is an Icelandic musician and a writer.
Einar Örn Benediktsson, often billed as Einar Örn, is an Icelandic popular music singer and trumpet player. He was a member of the Sugarcubes. He served as a member of the Reykjavík City Council between 2010 and 2014.
Purrkur Pillnikk was a rock band from late punk era in Iceland. The band existed for 18 months (1981–1982) and were very active as they released at least two LPs, one live-album and two EPs. The distinguishable character of the band were Einar Örn's howling and off-key singing and his lyrics that most often described very day-to-day things but with a lot of interwoven angst. Members of the band later found themselves in Kukl, or in 1986 in the Sugarcubes.
Stick Around for Joy is the third and final studio album by Icelandic alternative rock band the Sugarcubes. It was released in 1992 by Elektra. The album was supported by four singles: "Hit", which reached number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the US and number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, "Walkabout", "Vitamin" and "Leash Called Love", which went to number one on the US Dance chart.
Gramm was an Icelandic record label created by Ásmundur Jónsson and Einar Örn Benediktsson in 1981.
The Eye is the debut studio album by Icelandic post-punk band Kukl. It was released in September 1984 by Crass Records. The album peaked at No. 6 in the UK Independent Albums Chart.
The Elgar Sisters was an Icelandic duo formed by singer Björk Guðmundsdóttir and composer Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson in 1984. The Elgar Sisters coexisted with Kukl, another group they were part of.
Bad Taste is an Icelandic independent record label located in Reykjavík, that also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts. It is home to The Sugarcubes.
Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson is an Icelandic musician.
Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought) is the second and last studio album by the Icelandic post-punk group Kukl, released on January 24, 1986, by Crass Records.
Hættuleg hljómsveit & glæpakvendið Stella was an album released in September 1990 by Icelandic rock singer Megas. This double CD album featured The Sugarcubes, a band led by Björk and Einar Örn Benediktsson.
Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson is featured here adding guitars.
Tappi Tíkarrass was an Icelandic punk band which added elements of funk, rock and jazz to their music, marking a difference from other traditional bands at that time. The band is also considered the first serious music project of now renowned singer Björk Guðmundsdóttir. The band was reformed in 2015 by the original members, without Björk.
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, also known as HÖH, is a musician, an art director, and allsherjargoði of Ásatrúarfélagið.
Rokk í Reykjavík is the soundtrack to the Icelandic TV documentary directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson during 1981-82 winter and released in 1982.
The soundtrack, which was released in April 1982 as a 2 LP released through Hugrenningur, features the performances of several Icelandic bands of the post-punk/new wave scene.
Bands such as Þeyr, Tappi Tíkarrass, Purrkur Pillnikk, among others, were considered some of the most important bands at the moment. The image cover for this release is a picture of singer Björk performing with Tappi Tíkarrass.
The record sold over 2000 copies. Ira Robbins from Trouser Press stated that the album is a good compilation album to get to know Icelandic music.
Skytturnar is the soundtrack to the Icelandic film directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson in 1987. This 12" EP was released through the Gramm-label and was produced by Kjartan Kjartansson and the renowned Tómas Magnús Tómasson.
The soundtrack includes several well known Icelandic artists such as Bubbi & MX-21, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Sykurmolarnir with the collaboration of Þór Eldon Jónsson .
The soundtrack EP includes four of the songs used in Skytturnar, there were 14 different pieces of music used in the movie, mostly as coincidental music. The EP has never been reissued and is currently widely unavailable.
Dense Time is an album released on December 9, 2005 by Icelandic guitar player Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson.
Þeyr was an Icelandic new wave band from the early 1980s.
Björk Guðmundsdóttir is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and sometimes eccentric public persona, she has developed an eclectic musical style over a career spanning four decades, drawing on electronic, pop, experimental, trip hop, classical, and avant-garde music.
Kukl à Paris 14.9.84 was a live album released by the Icelandic post-punk group Kukl in July 1985, on the independent French record label V.I.S.A. It was only available in cassette format, packaged in a transparent plastic bag with an accompanying 16-page stapled booklet of lyrics, photos and liner notes. The album contained live versions of Kukl's songs as performed at L'Eldorado in Paris, France on 14 September 1984.
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