Singapore Sling (band)
Encyclopedia
Singapore Sling is an indie band from Reykjavík
, Iceland
.
As of 2011 they have released five albums and a best of compilation. Singapore Sling have supported The Brian Jonestown Massacre
on their North American tours and covered Dirty Water
a 1966 garage rock
hit by The Standells
in their debut album. They have also covered The Monks
' I Hate You in the 2006 compilation Silver Monk Time
: A Tribute to the Monks.
Their Neo-Psychedelia
sound has often been compared by the media to acts such as The Velvet Underground
, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain
, The Raveonettes
, BRMC and Serena Maneesh
, although the band's tongue-in-cheek
frontman Henrik Bjornsson defines it as "a cross between Simon and Garfunkel
".
The band's latest release is called Singapore Sling Must Be Destroyed and was released in 2010 on Outlier Records.
but from an infamous black and white B movie
by Greek director Nikos Nikolaidis
.
In a June 2003 interview with VRT Radio 1, Henrik Bjornsson stated:
The movie has been described by most European and American professionals as "disturbing", but director Nikolaidis declared he had been inspired by Greek tragedy, European film noir
and Kammerspiel
. Main cast includes Greek actor Panos Thanassoulis (as Singapore Sling), French actress Michèle Valley (as the mother) and American actress Meredyth Herold (as the daughter). Despite being forbidden in United Kingdom, it has been premiered in Canada in 1990 and was released in DVD in the United States in 2006.
official website and that would later become Overdriver, the opening track for the debut LP.
The band evolved to a sextet formation with changing lineups performing at Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavík's main music festival created in 1999, before getting a record deal with the local label Hitt Records (Edda) in 2002. The lineup was then as such:
The album has been licensed by New York indie label Stinky Records for a North American release in 2003. Why this record is being released in America is because a guy came here on a festival and then he let some people hear it in America explains Henrik Bjornsson. Einar Kristjansson adds "The whole idea of the Airwaves Festival is like a festival for Icelandic bands to export or be spotted. Iceland is so isolated and they have this festival. Icelandair sponsors it and they give flights and stuff like that to journalists and label people so they can come and see us. The whole festival is sponsored by Icelandair and the government to get Icelandic music to be heard outside of Iceland."
About the record's name Henrik Bjornsson explained in a June 2003 interview: "We ran into a lot of obstacles while recording the record. We turned on the lights and the light bulbs would explode
. On the first day of recording the tape machine broke down. There were just endless things like that. And then we were depressed one day and Einar checked his bank account. There was 666 krones. And the curse seemed appropriate.
The band toured the United States and Canada in summer 2003.
in Iceland through Sheptone Records a vinyl records store where Einar works, and in the United States with an American support tour.
The track Curse, Curse, Curse has been picked up by British actors Ewan McGregor
and Charley Boorman
to be featured in the 2004~2005 TV documentary series Long Way Round
(LWR). Virgin
released the soundtrack CD in 2004.
in 2005. Although it was distributed in Denmark by Reykjavik / Copenhagen
based indie label 12 Tónar
, it has not been licensed for the United States by Stinky Records yet.
In 2007, German label 8mm Muzik bought the rights for a European release and sold a best of anthology featuring 4 tracks for each one of the two first albums, plus two tracks taken from this third album.
which is dedicated to the Icelandic music scene.
In 2006, German label Play Loud! Music released the 2-disc tribute compilation Silver Monk Time
to The Monks
. Singapore Sling covered the track I Hate You. All songs were especially recorded for this project between September 2005 and May 2006, they were mastered at Faust Studio by Hans-Joachim Irmler from the Faust
.
, the band's anthology especially dedicated to the European market.
Touring band supporting the release was a quintet including a female bassist called Bibi. European venues were located in Germany
, France
, Benelux
, Denmark
, Austria
, Italy
and Czech Republic
.
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...
, Iceland
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...
.
As of 2011 they have released five albums and a best of compilation. Singapore Sling have supported The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American eclectic musical group led by Anton Newcombe, whose music spans multiple genres including psychedelia, electronica, folk music, blues, experimental music, and many others....
on their North American tours and covered Dirty Water
Dirty Water
"Dirty Water" is a song first recorded by the California rock and roll band The Standells in 1966 and composed by their producer, Ed Cobb. It is considered a classic of garage rock.-Description:...
a 1966 garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
hit by The Standells
The Standells
The Standells are a garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in the 1960s, who have been referred to as the "Godfathers of Punk Rock", and are best known for their 1966 hit "Dirty Water," now the anthem of several Boston sports teams.-The 1960s:...
in their debut album. They have also covered The Monks
The Monks
Monks are a garage rock band, formed by American GIs who were based in Germany in the mid to late 1960s. They reunited in 1999 and have continued to play concerts, although no new studio recordings have been made...
' I Hate You in the 2006 compilation Silver Monk Time
Silver monk time
Silver Monk Time is both a tribute record to the German-American beat band The Monks and the soundtrack to the award winning film Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback. The record was produced and compiled by the filmmakers Dietmar Post and Lucia Palacios. It was released in October 2006. The official...
: A Tribute to the Monks.
Their Neo-Psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia is music that emulates or is heavily influenced by the psychedelic music of the 1960s. It began to be revived among British post-punk bands of the later 1970s and early 1980s and was taken up by groups including bands of the Paisley Underground and Madchester scenes, as well as...
sound has often been compared by the media to acts such as The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
, The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes are a Danish indie rock duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner on guitar, instruments, and vocals, and Sharin Foo on bass, guitar and vocals...
, BRMC and Serena Maneesh
Serena Maneesh
Serena-Maneesh is an alternative rock band from Oslo, Norway.- Significance of the Name:...
, although the band's tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
frontman Henrik Bjornsson defines it as "a cross between Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
".
The band's latest release is called Singapore Sling Must Be Destroyed and was released in 2010 on Outlier Records.
Name origin
Despite the band's frontman Henrik Bjornsson's job as a bartender, the band's name doesn't come from the Singapore Sling cocktailSingapore Sling
The Singapore Sling is a cocktail that was developed sometime before 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon , a bartender working at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel Singapore...
but from an infamous black and white B movie
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
by Greek director Nikos Nikolaidis
Nikos Nikolaidis
Nikos Nikolaidis was a Greek film director and a writer.Nikolaidis was born in 1939 in Athens, where he lived and worked all his life. He was also script writer and producer of movies which he directed. For a part of his time he produced television commercials...
.
In a June 2003 interview with VRT Radio 1, Henrik Bjornsson stated:
The movie has been described by most European and American professionals as "disturbing", but director Nikolaidis declared he had been inspired by Greek tragedy, European film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
and Kammerspiel
Munich Kammerspiele
The Munich Kammerspiele is a successful German language theatre in Munich. The Schauspielhaus in the Maximilianstrasse is the major stage.-History:...
. Main cast includes Greek actor Panos Thanassoulis (as Singapore Sling), French actress Michèle Valley (as the mother) and American actress Meredyth Herold (as the daughter). Despite being forbidden in United Kingdom, it has been premiered in Canada in 1990 and was released in DVD in the United States in 2006.
History
Singapore Sling was formed in Spring of 2000 in Reykjavík, capital of Iceland with the reunion of Henrik Bjornsson (singer, songwriter, guitarist) and Einar Kristjánsson (lead guitarist). Henrik had some 8-track demos and wanted to create a band, one of these demos was Overdrive that surfaced online in the Iceland Airwaves 2001Iceland 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:...
official website and that would later become Overdriver, the opening track for the debut LP.
The band evolved to a sextet formation with changing lineups performing at Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavík's main music festival created in 1999, before getting a record deal with the local label Hitt Records (Edda) in 2002. The lineup was then as such:
- Henrik Björnsson: vocals / guitar / keyboard
- Einar Kristjánsson: lead guitar
- Þorgeir Guðmundsson: bass
- Helgi Örn Pétursson: guitar / keyboard
- Bjarni Jóhannsson: drums
- Sigurður Magnús Finnsson aka Siggi Shaker: tambourine / maracas
Line-up
Recently the lineup changed, as of May 2005 current members are:- Henrik Björnsson: vocals / guitar / keyboard
- Einar Kristjánsson: lead guitar
- Bibi: bass
- Hákon Aoalsteinsson: guitar
- Bjorn Viktorsson: drums
- Sigurður Magnús Finnsson aka Siggi Sniff: tambourine / maracas
Debut album (2002-2003)
Singapore Sling released its debut album The Curse of in August 2002, then the band performed at Iceland Airwaves 2002 music festival.The album has been licensed by New York indie label Stinky Records for a North American release in 2003. Why this record is being released in America is because a guy came here on a festival and then he let some people hear it in America explains Henrik Bjornsson. Einar Kristjansson adds "The whole idea of the Airwaves Festival is like a festival for Icelandic bands to export or be spotted. Iceland is so isolated and they have this festival. Icelandair sponsors it and they give flights and stuff like that to journalists and label people so they can come and see us. The whole festival is sponsored by Icelandair and the government to get Icelandic music to be heard outside of Iceland."
About the record's name Henrik Bjornsson explained in a June 2003 interview: "We ran into a lot of obstacles while recording the record. We turned on the lights and the light bulbs would explode
Exploding light bulb
An exploding light bulb is a tungsten halogen or high-intensity discharge lamp, which ruptures explosively. Because these lamps operate with high pressure inside a high-temperature envelope, explosion can result in small pieces of hot glass ejected at high speed.- Causes of bulb explosion :If the...
. On the first day of recording the tape machine broke down. There were just endless things like that. And then we were depressed one day and Einar checked his bank account. There was 666 krones. And the curse seemed appropriate.
The band toured the United States and Canada in summer 2003.
Second album (2004)
Although their home label Edda left the music business and shut its branch Hitt Records, Singapore Sling released their second record Life Is Killing My Rock 'N' RollLife Is Killing My Rock 'N' Roll
Life Is Killing My Rock 'N' Roll is the second studio album by Reykjavík-based indie rock band Singapore Sling. The album was released in Iceland by Sheptone Records then shortly after distributed in the United States by indie label Stinky Records in 2004.-Production:The album was recorded at...
in Iceland through Sheptone Records a vinyl records store where Einar works, and in the United States with an American support tour.
The track Curse, Curse, Curse has been picked up by British actors Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
and Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman is an English TV adventurer, travel writer and actor. He is well known for his association with motorcycles and enthusiasm for biking.-Education:...
to be featured in the 2004~2005 TV documentary series Long Way Round
Long Way Round
Long Way Round is a documentary television series, DVD set and book documenting the journey of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman from London to New York on motorcycles...
(LWR). Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
released the soundtrack CD in 2004.
Third album (2005)
Sheptone Records released the third album Taste the Blood of Singapore SlingTaste the Blood of Singapore Sling
Taste the Blood of Singapore Sling sometimes shortened to Taste the Blood of is the third studio album by Reykjavík-based indie rock band Singapore Sling...
in 2005. Although it was distributed in Denmark by Reykjavik / Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
based indie label 12 Tónar
12 Tónar
12 Tónar is a small record shop in Reykjavík, Iceland, and also a record label for Icelandic indie bands. It is located on Skólavörðustígur 15, in downtown Reykjavík....
, it has not been licensed for the United States by Stinky Records yet.
In 2007, German label 8mm Muzik bought the rights for a European release and sold a best of anthology featuring 4 tracks for each one of the two first albums, plus two tracks taken from this third album.
Miscellaneous (2005~2006)
Singapore Sling appeared in the 2005 feature documentary Screaming MasterpieceScreaming Masterpiece
Screaming Masterpiece is a 2005 documentary film directed and written by Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon about the music scene in Iceland...
which is dedicated to the Icelandic music scene.
In 2006, German label Play Loud! Music released the 2-disc tribute compilation Silver Monk Time
Silver monk time
Silver Monk Time is both a tribute record to the German-American beat band The Monks and the soundtrack to the award winning film Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback. The record was produced and compiled by the filmmakers Dietmar Post and Lucia Palacios. It was released in October 2006. The official...
to The Monks
The Monks
Monks are a garage rock band, formed by American GIs who were based in Germany in the mid to late 1960s. They reunited in 1999 and have continued to play concerts, although no new studio recordings have been made...
. Singapore Sling covered the track I Hate You. All songs were especially recorded for this project between September 2005 and May 2006, they were mastered at Faust Studio by Hans-Joachim Irmler from the Faust
Faust (band)
Faust are a German krautrock band. Formed in 1971 in Wümme, the group was originally composed of Werner "Zappi" Diermaier, Hans Joachim Irmler, Arnulf Meifert, Jean-Hervé Péron, Rudolf Sosna and Gunther Wüsthoff, working with record producer Uwe Nettelbeck and engineer Kurt Graupner.-History:Faust...
.
European Record Release Tour (May 2007)
In May 2007 German label 8mm Musik Ltd managed the European Record Release Tour in support to the release of The Curse, the Life, the BloodThe Curse, the Life, the Blood
The Curse, the Life, the Blood is a best of anthology of the first third studio albums released by Reykjavík-based indie rock band Singapore Sling...
, the band's anthology especially dedicated to the European market.
Touring band supporting the release was a quintet including a female bassist called Bibi. European venues were located in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
Fourth album, fifth album and sixth album (2009-2011)
The band's fourth Album, called "Perversity, Desperation and Death" was released in 2009. This was followed up by the band's fifth Album, called "Singapore Sling Must Be Destroyed", which was released in October 2010 through Outlier Records. The band's most recent album, "Never Forever", was released in 2011.LPs
- 2002: The Curse of Singapore SlingThe Curse of Singapore SlingThe Curse of Singapore Sling is the debut studio album by Reykjavík-based indie rock band Singapore Sling.- Releases :...
- 2004: Life Is Killing My Rock 'N' RollLife Is Killing My Rock 'N' RollLife Is Killing My Rock 'N' Roll is the second studio album by Reykjavík-based indie rock band Singapore Sling. The album was released in Iceland by Sheptone Records then shortly after distributed in the United States by indie label Stinky Records in 2004.-Production:The album was recorded at...
- 2005: Taste the Blood of Singapore SlingTaste the Blood of Singapore SlingTaste the Blood of Singapore Sling sometimes shortened to Taste the Blood of is the third studio album by Reykjavík-based indie rock band Singapore Sling...
- 2009: Perversity, Desperation and Death
- 2010: Singapore Sling Must Be Destroyed
- 2011: Never ForeverNever ForeverNever Forever is a 2007 US/Korean movie written and directed by Gina Kim, released worldwide in December 2007...
Compilation tracks
- 2006: I Hate You - 4:34 (covered from The MonksThe MonksMonks are a garage rock band, formed by American GIs who were based in Germany in the mid to late 1960s. They reunited in 1999 and have continued to play concerts, although no new studio recordings have been made...
) on Silver Monk TimeSilver monk timeSilver Monk Time is both a tribute record to the German-American beat band The Monks and the soundtrack to the award winning film Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback. The record was produced and compiled by the filmmakers Dietmar Post and Lucia Palacios. It was released in October 2006. The official...
: A Tribute to the Monks (CD-pl-02)
Demo tracks
- 2001: Overdrive (8-track) - 4:45 (demo version of OverdriverThe Curse of Singapore SlingThe Curse of Singapore Sling is the debut studio album by Reykjavík-based indie rock band Singapore Sling.- Releases :...
) hosted in Iceland Airwaves 2001 official website.
External links
- Official Myspace
- Stinky Records - U.S. label
- label play loud! productions - German label
- [ Band's profile on allmusic guide AMG]
- Band interview