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

Hercules and Love Affair – In Amber

★★★★★
Laura Bit
Read More

George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid

★★★★★
Bev Lung
Read More

FKJ – Vincent

★★★★★
Ronan Fawsitt
Read More

Liam Gallagher – C’mon You Know

★★★★★
Mark Worgan
Read More

Lykke Li – EYEYE

★★★★★
Georgia Howlett
Read More

Florence and the Machine – Dance Fever

★★★★★
Ronan Fawsitt
Read More

Warpaint – Radiate Like This

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Arcade Fire – We

★★★★★
Ronan Fawsitt
Read More

Blossoms – Ribbon Around the Bomb

★★★★★
Georgia Howlett
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Netflix Walking Tour: From Bridgerton to The Crown, a free walking tour through the filming locations
    Cinema & Tv
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Railway Children Return
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Terminal List
    ★★★★★
    amazon
  • Baymax!
    ★★★★★
    disney
  • The Railway Children Return
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Netflix Walking Tour: From Bridgerton to The Crown, a free walking tour through the filming locations
    Cinema & Tv
  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

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