Jóhann Jóhannsson
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Jóhann Jóhannsson has been called"Iceland's foremost genre-crossing
multi-instrumentalist" (Irish Times), "one of the bright lights in the already talent rich Icelandic underground music scene" (Aquarius Records), "the most compelling composer working today", and "An important figure in Iceland's new music scene at the turn of the millennium". (All Music Guide). Born in Iceland, Jóhann has been a resident of Denmark for the last few years.
Jóhann Jóhannsson´s stately, slow-building and hauntingly melodic music, which frequently combines electronics with classical orchestrations, has been quietly bewitching listeners since he released his first solo record Englabörn in 2002 on the well respected British label Touch. The record was re-released in 2007 by 4AD, by which time its reputation had grown as an influential recording in the burgeoning field that has been variously called post-classsical or neo-classical. Englabörn was written for string quartet, percussion and electronics, and Jóhann's second album, Virthulegu Forsetar (2004), for brass ensemble, drones and percussion. Both releases met substantial critical acclaim, whilst his third album and his first for 4AD, IBM 1401 - A User's Manual (2006), was his most ambitiously orchestrated composition to date involving a 60 piece string orchestra and incorporating electronics and original reel-to-reel recordings of music made on a 1960´s IBM 1401 mainframe computer. Jóhann's most recent album, Fordlandia, was released in November 2008 also on 4AD. Another orchestral album combining complex narrative themes with a sound that expands upon his earlier work while breaking new ground, Fordlandia combines a darkly romantic minimalism and baroque counterpoint with Krautrock, post-rock, glitch electronics and melodies inspired by North European folk music.
Although mostly instrumental, Jóhann's work often involves complex narratives, which often deal with man´s relationship with the world of machines and decaying and obsolete technology.
Jóhann's many projects include the all-analog Apparat Organ Quartet and Kitchen Motors, the art organization/think tank/record label which specializes in instigating collaborations and art projects across diverse artforms.
Jóhann is also an award-winning film composer with 8 international feature film credits to his name. He is a prolific collaborator, having worked and performed with artists such as Marc Almond, Barry Adamson, Pan Sonic, The Hafler Trio, Jaki Liebezeit, Laetitia Sadier, David Tibet, Baby Dee, Larsen and many more. Jóhann is also an accomplished composer for contemporary dance and theater. His acclaimed collaborations with the internationally renowned choreographer and dancer Erna Omarsdottir, "IBM 1401, a user's manual" (2002), and "Mysteries of Love" (2005), have been performed widely across Europe.
Jóhann performs regularly througout Europe and the rest of the world with his 6 piece ensemble, which includes a string quartet, piano, electronics and percussion.
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Goldmund
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A multi-instrumentalist from a young age, Keith Kenniff studied percussion and composition at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received his BA in 2006. Influenced by minimalist composers such as Morton Feldman, and Howard Skempton and civil war folk songs, he started writing piano music in 2004 as Goldmund. In 2005 his first album “Corduroy Road” was released on Type Records and quickly made its way to many critic’s top 10 lists. In 2007 the EP “Two Point Discrimination” was released on Western Vinyl in 2007 and in 2008 he returned to Type Records for the highly acclaimed follow up to Corduroy Road, “The Malady of Elegance”. He has performed and toured internationally with artists such as John Tilbury, Charlemagne Palestine and Hauschka.
Keith also records simultaneously as Helios, focusing on electronic and ambient composition. The critically acclaimed album “Eingya” was released on Type Records in 2006, followed by the “Ayres” EP in 2007 and “Caesura” in 2008.
Keith has composed music that can also be heard on films such as “Mister Lonely” by New York filmmaker Harmony Korine, and the documentary “Manufactured Landscapes”. He has also scored music for commercials by clients such as Honda, MTV, Audi, and American Express, and can be heard on the trailer for the film Revolutionary Road starring Leonardo Di Caprio released in 2009.
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