The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMusicAlbum reviews

Retro Stefson – Retro Stefson

Retro Stefson – Retro Stefson | Album review
19 March 2013
James Alder
Avatar
James Alder
19 March 2013

The majority impression of the Icelandic music scene normally revolves around either Sigur Ros with their dreamy pop-rock sound, or the bizarre works of the now 47-year-old Bjork. But a new band has emerged which sounds nothing like either. 

Retro Stefson are a septet from Reykjavik. They formed as a group of school friends in 2006 and have since released a couple of well-received albums. Their first, Montaña, was released exclusively in Iceland in 2008, but on this self-titled third album they aim for overseas with a UK release later this month.

The band is a breath of fresh air amid previous Icelandic imports: their unique blend consists of everything from rock to electro pop and funk. Recent single Qween mixes bouncy synths and funky bass lines with extremely infectious hooks and inventive lyrics. Miss Nobody follows suit, adding an impressive guitar riff to showcase the rock element of the band. 

Although from Iceland, the band is heavily influenced by broader world music. They incorporate Latin and African beats into Glow and Miss Nobody, as well as clear Middle Eastern influences in (O) Kami.

As in the title and the band’s name, the album does have a retro feel to it, especially with its electronic beats and subtle synths. At times it sounds like something you would hear from a Gameboy game – most strikingly in Time. The main attraction of Retro Stefson is in the way the band dips and delves into different genres, and most of the time they actually do better than their established counterparts.

Retro Stefson have created an imaginative, genre defying album that even on repeated examination consistently brings something new. 

★★★★★

James Alder

Retro Stefson is released on 25th March 2013. For further information or to order the album visit Retro Stefson’s website here.

Watch the video for Glow here:

Related Itemsreview

More in Album reviews

Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams

★★★★★
Mark Worgan
Read More

Hello Cosmos – Dream Harder

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More

Jeremiah Fraites – Piano Piano

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Lonely the Brave – The Hope List

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs

★★★★★
Mark Worgan
Read More

You Me at Six – Suckapunch

★★★★★
Mark Worgan
Read More

Pearl Charles – Magic Mirror

★★★★★
Mae Trumata
Read More

Passenger – Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted

★★★★★
Georgie Cowan-Turner
Read More

Taylor Swift – Evermore

★★★★★
Bev Lung
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks
    Theatre
  • Start the year right with these eco-friendly vegan and vegetarian food deliveries
    Food & Drinks
  • Hello Cosmos – Dream Harder
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • The Capote Tapes
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Green stars, two female chefs at the top and a controversially quick award: This is 2021 UK Michelin Guide during the pandemic
    Food & Drinks
  • Assassins: Exclusive new clip
    Cinema
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Uncategorised
  • Schemers
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Away: An interview with animator Gints Zilbalodis
    Interviews
  • Green stars, two female chefs at the top and a controversially quick award: This is 2021 UK Michelin Guide during the pandemic
    Food & Drinks
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Uncategorised
  • Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Reincarnated | Movie review
Simian Mobile Disco – Live | Album review