GusGus
| GusGus | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Genres | Electronic music |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | 4AD, Kompakt |
| Website | gusgus |
| Members | Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Högni Egilsson Birgir Þórarinsson |
GusGus is an electronic band from Reykjavík, Iceland.[1] They were founded in 1995. The group's discography consists of nine studio albums.
Contents
History
Initially formed as a film and acting collective[citation needed], the group became mostly known for its electronic music. GusGus has had a varied lineup, including the following:
- Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson
- Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir
- Magnús Jónsson (a.k.a. Blake)
- Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir
- Urður Hákonardóttir (a.k.a. Earth)
- Högni Egilsson
- Birgir Þórarinsson (a.k.a. Biggi Veira or Biggo)
- Magnús Guðmundsson (a.k.a. Maggi Lego, Herb Legowitz, Hunk of a Man, Buckmaster De La Cruz, The Fox, Fuckmaster, or Herr Legowitz)
- Stephan Stephensen (a.k.a. President Bongo, Alfred More, or President Penis)
- Sigurður Kjartansson (a.k.a. Siggi Kinski)
- Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson
- Baldur Stefánsson
- Ragnheiður Axel
- Páll Garðarsson
Its 2015 incarnation consists of four members (President Bongo, Biggi Veira, Urður Hákonardóttir and Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson). After the group's third album, This Is Normal (1999), 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 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 of Peter Jackson's film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Gusgus' music is eclectic, and although primarily classified as techno, trip hop, and house music, the band has experimented with numerous other styles. It has also remixed several famous artists, including Björk, Depeche Mode, Moloko, and Sigur Rós. In January 2004, GusGus released the song "Desire" with Ian Brown. A remix of the track "Purple" appeared on Paul Oakenfold's trance compilation 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 Gusgus. The band regards it as a sex reference.[3]
Band members
| 1995 |
|
|---|---|
| 1996–2000 |
|
| 2001–2007 |
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| 2008–2010 |
|
| 2011–2013 |
|
| 2014-onwards |
|
Discography
Studio albums
- Gus Gus (1995)
- Polydistortion (1997) — UK No. 130
- This Is Normal (1999) — UK No. 94
- Gus Gus vs. T-World (2000)
- Attention (2002)
- Forever (2007)
- 24/7 (2009)
- Arabian Horse (2011)
- Mexico (2014)
Live albums
Compilations
- 15 ára (2010)
Singles
- "Polyesterday" (1996) — UK No. 55 (as Purple EP: Polyesterday)
- "Believe" (1997) — UK No. 154
- "Standard Stuff for Drama" (1997)
- "Ladyshave" (1999) — UK No. 64
- "V.I.P." (1999) — UK No. 86
- "Starlovers" (1999) — UK No. 62
- "Dance You Down" (2002) — UK No. 141
- "Desire" (2002) — UK No. 95
- "David" (2003) — UK No. 52
- "Call of the Wild" (2003) — UK No. 75
- "Lust / Porn" (2005)
- "Need in Me" (2005) — BG No. 24
- "Forever Sampler" (2006)
- "Moss" (2007)
- "Hold You" (2007)
- "Add This Song" (2009)
- "Thin Ice" (2009)
- "Within You" (2011)
- "Over" (2011)
- "Deep Inside" (2011)
- "Crossfade" (2014)
- "Obnoxiously Sexual" (2014)
- "Mexico" (2014)
- "Airwaves" (2014)
See also
References
- ↑ Gusgus
- ↑ Arni & Kinski | Biography
- ↑ Gusgus Interview with Nina Asseng, Berlin 2007 (comment by Daníel Ágúst, starting at 5:30)
