Thurston Moore Group | Mammút
Hljómahöll, Keflavík
9 October 2022
The guitar wizard of Sonic Youth fame visits Iceland’s Hljómahöll.
For the nation with a inhabitants of practically 376.000, the arrival of such artist as Thurston Moore causes ripples within the territorial sea. The occasion in Keflavík, largely well-known to the remainder of the world as a former NATO navy base, attracts followers from so far as Reykjavík and Akureyri, the second largest metropolis on the northern tip of the island.
The gig takes place at Hljómaholl, the venue on the Icelandic Museum of Rock & Roll, celebrating the historical past of native standard music. Naturally, Thurston Moore Group share the stage with an Icelandic act. The help band is Mammút, one of the vital charming collectives on the island’s music scene. They hold your consideration in a considerably hypnotising method. It isn’t solely singer Katrína Mogensen’s improbable stage presence that disarms your most defensive zones however the sonic depth contributed by different founding members – bass participant Vilborg Ása Dýradóttir and guitarist Alexandra Baldursdóttir. Their highly effective guitar-led circuits resonate with Thurston Moore’s shamanic compositions.
Shortly after, the stage is taken over by the headliner. Moore’s T-shirt shows the Crypt of the Wizard emblem. Whereas referencing the metallic file store in Hackney, the printed identify sums up the occasion. Moore the Wizard is taking part in at a venue that from the skin seems to be like a Scandinavian model of a Pentecost church. With its seemingly small-scale façade, it has a Tardis-like impact – the spacious corridor has a capability of 600.
Thurston Moore, who beforehand visited Iceland 9 years in the past, reminisces about Northern winter. “I like winter and that is in all probability the perfect place to be throughout this time of the 12 months”. The opening twenty-minute Locomotives reveals numerous dimensions of noise that evoke the uncooked energy of Icelandic nature. Avalanche-esque noise, a thunderstorm of gentle distortion, a therapeutic drone, an extraterrestrial cacophony and finally the Huge Bang that results in a construction of the Sonic Youth sensibility. Artists of all doable noisy genres would discuss with Moore as an simple affect. His strategy to sound has been notably interesting to Scandinavian bands and solo musicians. The acquainted parts will be traced within the equally intense music of Sigur Rós, For A Minor Reflection and Anna Von Hausswolff, to call only a few.
As an expert noisenik, Moore is loyal to a specific kind of kit. His Jazzmaster is directed at numerous angles in the direction of the (conveniently) picket flooring, speaker and monitor. The sound is therapeutic. One other two members of his Jazzmaster sect are James Sedwards and Debbie Googe. Recounting his story of the collaboration with My Bloody Valentine’s bassist, Moore says: “Deb and I, we now have by no means actually talked that a lot. Am I speaking an excessive amount of now? (“Sure!”, the viewers yells excitedly). We might simply sort of nod at one another”.
Each Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine emerged within the 80s. Regardless of the veteran standing of these on the stage, there’s a sense of vitality. “And the bloom is but to return off the rose”, preparing for an additional sonic maelstrom from his 2020 album By The Fireplace. “However we’ve been to the wars collectively. once you get to a sure age, we’re in our 70s and 80s proper now, it’s a sort of zen. Now we have a zen future to struggle for”. Fortunately, these excessive power ranges outcome within the high-octane 90-minute set. Again to the stage for the encore, they play Forevermore. Some issues have long-lasting results certainly. No matter it’s that retains Moore going, his rose of creativity continues to be in glowing bloom.
Images offered by Ásgeir Þrastarson.
Extra details about Thurston Moore Group and Mammút is on their official profiles right here and right here.
