Bang Gang
Encyclopedia
Bang Gang is a melodic pop band from Iceland
founded by songwriter/producer Bardi Johannsson (see also Lady & Bird). The band was formed in 1996, in Johannsson’s hometown of Reykjavik
. Bang Gang were initially a surf band but Johannsson quickly steered the project in a more melodic pop direction.
While Johannsson has worked with a number of vocalists and musicians, he remains the only constant member. The band's second album Something Wrong
followed in 2003 and their acclaimed Ghosts From The Past
was released on Discograph in 2008.
The band is recognized for its blend of songwriting, electronica and glacial atmospheres. The band has toured the world playing festivals like Iceland Airwaves
, Cannes Film festival
, Novosonic, For Noise, Montreaux Jazz Festival, CMJ and SXSW and a number of independent shows at venues such as Salle Pleyel, Gramercy theater, Getty Center and more across Europe and North America.
campaign.
The single "Sleep" was released in 1998 and featured a video by director Ragnar Bragason
.
Their first album, You
, was released in Iceland in 1998 to almost unanimous praise. The band signed a deal with East-West France, who released You in 2000. The French version featured remixes by French musician Kid Loco
.
Bang Gang’s second single Sacred Things became a hit in Iceland and Europe.
was the follow up to 2000’s You. The album was released in 2003 as a follow up on 2002’s untitled EP. It features Bang Gang's distinctive mix of atmospheric songwriting and haunting electronica and features vocal performances from Nicolette
, Phoebe Tolmer, Esther, GusGus
vocalist Daniel Agust Haraldsson
and long-term collaborator Keren Ann
.
Various songs from Something Wrong were used for TV, film and other media. For example the song "Follow" was used in Fox TV show The O.C.
; "Inside" was used for an Emporio Armani advertisement and was featured in the movie Cashback
and the trailer for the film Triage
; and "Find What You Get" has been used in commercials for the car Lancia Musa
.
was Bang Gang’s third album. The album features vocalists and co-writers Keren Ann
and Anthony Gonzales (M83
). The album features pop rock
singles "I Know You Sleep", "Don't Feel Ashamed" and included an opera singer on the title track. The song "Lost in Wonderland" was used for the Oscar season trailer at Sky Movies
.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
founded by songwriter/producer Bardi Johannsson (see also Lady & Bird). The band was formed in 1996, in Johannsson’s hometown of Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. Bang Gang were initially a surf band but Johannsson quickly steered the project in a more melodic pop direction.
While Johannsson has worked with a number of vocalists and musicians, he remains the only constant member. The band's second album Something Wrong
Something Wrong
Something Wrong is the second album released by the Pop/Electro band Bang Gang. It was written by Barði Jóhannson and released in 2003.-Track listing:All songs by Barði Jóhannson, except where noted.#"Inside"#"Follow"#"Something Wrong"...
followed in 2003 and their acclaimed Ghosts From The Past
Ghosts From The Past
Ghosts From The Past is the third studio album by the Pop/Electro band Bang Gang. It was released on May 21, 2008, May 23 in France. The album is the band's first record release through Cod Music.-Material:...
was released on Discograph in 2008.
The band is recognized for its blend of songwriting, electronica and glacial atmospheres. The band has toured the world playing festivals like Iceland Airwaves
Iceland Airwaves
Iceland Airwaves is an annual music festival held in Reykjavík, Iceland on the third weekend of October. The festival spans five days and its main focus is showcasing new music, both Icelandic and international.-Festival:...
, Cannes Film festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, Novosonic, For Noise, Montreaux Jazz Festival, CMJ and SXSW and a number of independent shows at venues such as Salle Pleyel, Gramercy theater, Getty Center and more across Europe and North America.
You (1998)
When Bjornsson left Bang Gang, Johannsson and Talia Casey continued working together under the Bang Gang name. Their first song was used on the soundtrack of Icelandic movie Blossi 810551. Their second, "Sleep", was recorded for a compilation released by Sproti Records and was used for a CitroenCitroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
campaign.
The single "Sleep" was released in 1998 and featured a video by director Ragnar Bragason
Ragnar Bragason
Ragnar Bragason is an Icelandic film director, screenwriter and producer.He is best known for his films Börn and Foreldrar and the popular TV series Næturvaktin , Dagvaktin , and Fangavaktin .Ragnar grew up in the village of Súðavik, in a family of...
.
Their first album, You
You (Bang Gang album)
You is the first album released by the Pop/Electro band Bang Gang. It was written by Barði Jóhannson and released in 1998.-Track listing:All songs by Barði Jóhannson#"Sacred Things"#"Hazing Out"#"So Alone"#"Liar"#"Sleep"#"Falling Apart"#"Save Me"...
, was released in Iceland in 1998 to almost unanimous praise. The band signed a deal with East-West France, who released You in 2000. The French version featured remixes by French musician Kid Loco
Kid Loco
Jean-Yves Prieur, aka Kid Loco is a French electronic musician, DJ, remixer and producer. He was born on June 16, 1964 in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France. Allmusic considers his style to be similar to Air and Dimitri from Paris...
.
Bang Gang’s second single Sacred Things became a hit in Iceland and Europe.
Something Wrong (2003)
Something WrongSomething Wrong
Something Wrong is the second album released by the Pop/Electro band Bang Gang. It was written by Barði Jóhannson and released in 2003.-Track listing:All songs by Barði Jóhannson, except where noted.#"Inside"#"Follow"#"Something Wrong"...
was the follow up to 2000’s You. The album was released in 2003 as a follow up on 2002’s untitled EP. It features Bang Gang's distinctive mix of atmospheric songwriting and haunting electronica and features vocal performances from Nicolette
Nicolette
Nicolette is a UK singer-songwriter of Nigerian parentage. Living in London , she was born 1964 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has lived in Nigeria, Switzerland, France, and Belgium. Her music, although falling broadly into the field of electronica, is characterised by many influences, including,...
, Phoebe Tolmer, Esther, GusGus
GusGus
GusGus are a band from Reykjavík, Iceland. They were founded in 1995. Their discography consists of eight studio albums and one live record.- History :...
vocalist Daniel Agust Haraldsson
Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson
Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson is an Icelandic solo artist, and a lead singer of the bands GusGus, Nýdönsk and Esja.Daníel Ágúst has been part of the local and international music scene since he started his career with Icelandic pop sensation Nýdönsk some 20 years ago.In 1989 he participated in the...
and long-term collaborator Keren Ann
Keren Ann
Keren Ann Zeidel is a singer-songwriter-composer-producer and engineer based largely in Paris, Tel Aviv and New York City. She plays guitar, piano and clarinet, engineers and writes choir and musical arrangements.-Life and career:...
.
Various songs from Something Wrong were used for TV, film and other media. For example the song "Follow" was used in Fox TV show The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
; "Inside" was used for an Emporio Armani advertisement and was featured in the movie Cashback
Cashback (film)
Cashback is the name of two films directed by Sean Ellis: a 2004 short film and a 2006 feature film. Both were produced by Lene Bausager, starring Sean Biggerstaff and Emilia Fox. The feature was released by Magnolia Pictures in late 2006 and also starred Michelle Ryan...
and the trailer for the film Triage
Triage (film)
Triage is a 2009 drama film starring Colin Farrell, Paz Vega and Christopher Lee. The film’s plot is described as a dark tale of a photojournalist who comes home after a dangerous assignment in Kurdistan during the Anfal Genocide against the Kurdish people. The film focuses on the psychological...
; and "Find What You Get" has been used in commercials for the car Lancia Musa
Lancia Musa
The Lancia Musa is a mini MPV marketed by Lancia, the premium marque of Italian automaker Fiat. It is largely based on the Fiat Idea, with which it shares most of the components, but is differentiated by different front and rear ends, as well as interior elements and equipment...
.
Ghosts from the Past (2008)
Ghosts from the PastGhosts From The Past
Ghosts From The Past is the third studio album by the Pop/Electro band Bang Gang. It was released on May 21, 2008, May 23 in France. The album is the band's first record release through Cod Music.-Material:...
was Bang Gang’s third album. The album features vocalists and co-writers Keren Ann
Keren Ann
Keren Ann Zeidel is a singer-songwriter-composer-producer and engineer based largely in Paris, Tel Aviv and New York City. She plays guitar, piano and clarinet, engineers and writes choir and musical arrangements.-Life and career:...
and Anthony Gonzales (M83
M83 (band)
M83 is a musical act by French musician Anthony Gonzalez. It is named after a spiral galaxy, Messier 83. The band was founded in 2001 by Gonzalez and former member Nicolas Fromageau in Antibes, France...
). The album features pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
singles "I Know You Sleep", "Don't Feel Ashamed" and included an opera singer on the title track. The song "Lost in Wonderland" was used for the Oscar season trailer at Sky Movies
Sky Movies
Sky Movies is the collective name for the premium subscription television movie channels operated by Sky Television, and later British Sky Broadcasting. It has around 5 million subscribers, via satellite, cable and IPTV in the UK and Ireland...
.
Discography
- YouYou (Bang Gang album)You is the first album released by the Pop/Electro band Bang Gang. It was written by Barði Jóhannson and released in 1998.-Track listing:All songs by Barði Jóhannson#"Sacred Things"#"Hazing Out"#"So Alone"#"Liar"#"Sleep"#"Falling Apart"#"Save Me"...
(1998) - Something WrongSomething WrongSomething Wrong is the second album released by the Pop/Electro band Bang Gang. It was written by Barði Jóhannson and released in 2003.-Track listing:All songs by Barði Jóhannson, except where noted.#"Inside"#"Follow"#"Something Wrong"...
(2003) - Ghosts from the PastGhosts From The PastGhosts From The Past is the third studio album by the Pop/Electro band Bang Gang. It was released on May 21, 2008, May 23 in France. The album is the band's first record release through Cod Music.-Material:...
(2008)