Þursaflokkurinn

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Þursaflokkurinn
General information
origin Reykjavík , Iceland
Genre (s) Progressive rock , jazz rock , folk rock
founding 1978
Current occupation
Egill Ólafsson
Guitar , vocals
 Þórður Árnason
Bass , keyboard, vocals
 Tómas Magnus Tómasson
Rúnar Vilbergsson (until 1980; 1984; 1991; since 2008)
Drums , percussion
 Ásgeir Óskarsson
former members
Keyboard, Hammond organ , piano , accordion , vocals
 Karl J. Sighvattson (1978–1980)

Þursaflokkurinn ( Eng . About The Thursen Char , but the name could also be translated as The Party of the Giants ), simply written Thursaflokkurinn , is an Icelandic progressive rock band that was mainly active in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

history

Since it was founded in Reykjavík in 1978, the group consisted of Egill Ólafsson (vocals, keyboard and acoustic guitar), guitarist Þórður Arnason, bassoonist Rúnar Vilbergsson, bassist Tómas Tómasson and drummer Ásgeir Óskarsson.

Þursaflokkurinn (often also called Hinn íslenzki Þursaflokkur ) played primarily rock music from the progressive and folk range between 1978 and 1980 , with the texts being performed entirely in Icelandic. For example, the band's debut album, Hinn íslenzki Þursaflokkur , was a collection of old Icelandic folk songs, apart from two instrumentals, which were appropriately put into rock / progressive garb. This includes, for example, a seven-minute funeral march, which for the most part is only performed by kettledrum, harmonium, bass and dark vocals. For the second album, Þursabit , keyboardist Karl Sighvatsson also joined the band, which is why Þursabit became a more keyboard and Hammond organ- heavy record.

In 1980 a live performance of the band was finally recorded and brought to market as a vinyl record under the name Á hljómleikum . In addition to songs from the first two albums, there is also new material to be heard here, including three compositions from the jazz rock area of around 10 minutes and a quick rock 'n' roll track at the end.

The fourth album Gæti eins verið ... from 1982 marked a clear change in style: from now on, Þursaflokkurinn's music was more in the field of pop , new wave and rock music , as the acoustic instruments were almost entirely composed of keyboards and Synthesizers were replaced. Bassoonist Rúnar Vilbergsson was also no longer active in the band from then on.

After recordings for a new album in 1983 and 1984, the group disbanded for the time being, among other things because the band has not had any major commercial successes since its formation. The band members meanwhile went about other activities. Singer Egill Ólafsson was also active as a writer in addition to musical activities during this time, some other band members founded the rock band Stuðmenn . Every now and then, however, they met again in the 1990s to play as Þursaflokkurinn at Icelandic festivals, for example at the memorial festival of keyboardist Karl Sighvatsson, who died in 1991.

In the early 1990s, the original albums continued to be released on CD; only the live album was only re-released in 2008 as part of the Þursar anniversary box set (see below).

In 2000 the group brought the compilation Nútíminn onto the market, a collection of pieces from their three studio albums - named after a song on their debut LP, which translates into German as "New Times".

To mark their 30th anniversary in February 2008, the band started a series of concerts with the small Icelandic orchestra Capút and released a box set that included their four albums "Hinn íslenzki Þursaflokkur", "Þursabit", "Á hljómleikum" and "Gæti eins verið .. . "as well as the previously unreleased CD Ókomin forneskjan , which contains unpublished material and live recordings made between 1978 and 1991 (including the complete 1983/1984 recordings).

A live recording of one of the anniversary concerts from 2008 was released on CD and DVD at the end of November 2008 as Hinn íslenski Þursaflokkur og Caput .

Discography

Web links