GusGus
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| GusGus | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Reykjavík, Iceland | |
| Genres | Electronic music, House | |
| Years active | 1995— | |
| Labels | 4AD, Kompakt | |
| Website | gusgus.com | |
| Members | ||
| Stephan Stephensen, Birgir Þórarinsson, Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson, Urður Hákonardóttir and Högni Egilsson | ||
| Past members | ||
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Sigurður Kjartansson, Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson, Magnús Guðmundsson, Magnús Jónsson, Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir, Baldur Stefánsson, Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir, Ragnheiður Axel, Heiðrún Anna Björnsdóttir |
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GusGus are a band from Reykjavík, Iceland.[1] They were founded in 1995. Their discography consists of eight studio albums and one live record.
Contents |
[edit] History
Initially formed as a film and acting collective, the group became mostly known for their electronic music. GusGus have had a varied lineup, including:
- Stephan Stephensen (a.k.a. President Bongo, Alfred More, or President Penis)
- Birgir Þórarinsson (a.k.a. Biggi Veira or Biggo)
- Sigurður Kjartansson (a.k.a. Siggi Kinski)
- Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson
- Magnús Guðmundsson (a.k.a. Herb Legowitz, Hunk of a Man, Buckmaster De La Cruz, The Fox, Fuckmaster, or Herr Legowitz)
- Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson
- Magnús Jónsson (a.k.a. Blake)
- Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir
- Baldur Stefánsson
- Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir
- Ragnheiður Axel
- Heiðrún Anna Björnsdóttir
- Urður Hákonardóttir (a.k.a. Earth)
- Högni Egilsson
Several lineup changes have occurred, and their current incarnation consists of three members (President Bongo, Biggi Veira and Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson). After their third album, This Is Normal, the filmmaking arm of GusGus (Kjartansson and Árni Þorgeirsson) split off to form the production company Celebrator, now known as Arni & Kinski,[2] which has produced award-winning advertisements and videos. A few former members such as Hafdís Huld, Blake, and Daníel Ágúst have gone solo, most notably though Emilíana Torrini, who provided a song for the soundtrack to Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
GusGus' music is eclectic, and although primarily classified with techno, trip-hop and house music, they have experimented with numerous other styles. They have also remixed several famous artists, including Björk, Depeche Mode, Moloko, and Sigur Rós. Added to this they released the song "Desire" with Ian Brown in January 2004. A remix of the track "Purple" appeared in remixed form on Paul Oakenfold's successful trance compilation called Tranceport.
The band's name refers to the 1974 German film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, where a female character is cooking couscous for her lover, pronouncing it "Gus Gus". The band regards it as a "sex reference".[3]
[edit] Band members
| 1995 |
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| 1996–1999 |
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| 2000 |
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| 2001–2006 |
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| 2007 |
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| 2008 |
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| 2009–2010 |
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| 2011–onwards |
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[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Gus Gus (1995)
- Polydistortion (1997) — UK #130
- This Is Normal (1999) — UK #94
- Gus Gus vs. T-World (2000)
- Attention (2002)
- Forever (2007)
- 24/7 (2009)
- Arabian Horse (2011)
[edit] Live albums
[edit] Compilations
- 15 ára (2010)
[edit] Singles
- "Polyesterday" (1996) — UK #55 (as Purple EP: Polyesterday)
- "Believe" (1997) — UK #154
- "Standard Stuff for Drama" (1997)
- "Ladyshave" (1999) — UK #64
- "V.I.P." (1999) — UK #86
- "Starlovers" (1999) — UK #62
- "Dance You Down" (2002) — UK #141
- "Desire" (2002) — UK #95
- "David" (2003) — UK #52
- "Call of the Wild" (2003) — UK #75
- "Lust / Porn" (2005)
- "Need in Me" (2005)
- "Forever Sampler" (2006)
- "Moss" (2007)
- "Hold You" (2007)
- "Add This Song" (2009)
- "Thin Ice" (2009)
- "Within You" (2011)
- "Over" (2011)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Gusgus
- ^ Arni & Kinski | Biography
- ^ Gus Gus Interview with Nina Asseng, Berlin 2007 (comment by Daníel Ágúst, starting at 5:30)
