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Johann Johannsson
Electronica / Experimental / Other

""


Reykjavik,
Iceland

Profile Views:  101972




Last Login:  7/6/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Johann Johannsson

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/johannjohannsson  

   Johann Johannsson: General Info
Member Since7/8/2006
Band Websitejohannjohannsson.com
Influences
Record Label4AD, Touch
Type of LabelIndie





   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jun 28 2008 8:00P
Faster than Sound Festival Suffolk
Jun 29 2008 8:00P
Union Chapel - with Max Richter London
Jul 4 2008 8:00P
Transmission Festival ’08 Kufstein
Jul 8 2008 8:00P
River to River Festival - CANCELLED New York
Jul 18 2008 8:00P
Analog festival - Grand Canal Square Dublin, Dublin

Johann Johannsson's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Englabörn reviews and more  (view more)

Concerts, sountrack, re-issues..  (view more)

ABECEDA out on August 7th  (view more)

Images from recent live dates in Europe  (view more)

http://www.ausersmanual.com  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About Johann Johannsson

This is Johann Johannsson's Myspace page.

For more reliable contact info please click here.

Johann interviewed on the BBC February 16th. Listen here.

New pictures from concerts in Japan and Europe:

Johann Johannsson is an Icelandic composer. His stately, slow-building and hauntingly melodic music has been quietly bewitching listeners for the last few years - and IBM 1401, a User..s Manual, his most ambitiously-orchestrated and appealing composition to date, is sure to expand his audience still further. The record is his first for the label 4AD

Johann Johannssons first two solo records - Englabörn (2002) and Virthulegu Forsetar (2004) were released by the singular British independent Touch label. Despite limited promotional resources, both found plenty of fans, receiving glowing reviews in music media around the world; Virthulegu Forsetar found its way onto many critics end-of-year lists.

The Englabörn album was derived from music that Johann wrote for an Icelandic play of the same name, written for string quartet, piano, organ, glockenspiel and percussion. These elements were processed and manipulated, adding delicate electronic accents to the otherwise entirely acoustic recordings. One song, "Odi et Amo", is a setting of the famous poem by Catullus.

"This first solo album from Johann Johannsson is absolutely beautiful, and it has only become more so over the past few months, sustaining me for long periods of time when other music just wouldn't do the trick." [Pitchfork Media Andy Beta].

Read more reviews of Englabörn and Virthulegu forsetar here.

Johanns second album for Touch, Virthulegu Forsetar was one hour-long piece for 11 brass players, percussion, electronics, organs and piano. The piece had its live debut in Hallgrimskirkja, a large church in Reykjavik which is also the tallest building in Iceland; the performance was named "the most memorable musical event of 2003" in Iceland's leading newspaper. Virthulegu Forsetar shares Englaborn's quiet, elegiac beauty, but replaces the brevity of the first album's exquisite miniatures with a extended sweep of sound that reveals a long, slow process of evolution.

"It..s hard to classify this beautiful album by Icelandic composer Johannsson. On this, his second album, he employs an orchestra of 11 brass players, glockenspiel, piano and organ, with added bells and electronics; so it lies somewhere between classical, ambient music and experimental soundtrack." (The Observer [Kitty Empire])

"Virthulegu Forsetar's reflexive musical and temporal entropy, both a degenerative and regenerative impulse, achieves an astonishing visceral force and urgency : Johannsson's genius is to infuse his very postmodern music with a rare expressive intensity. Sublime." (Irish Times [Jocelyn Clarke])

Johann has been collaborating with the dancer and choreographer Erna Omarsdottir for several years; together they have performed a dance piece called IBM 1401, A Users Manual in more than 40 cities around Europe. When Johann signed to 4AD in 2005, he immediately set about reworking this music; originally written for string quartet, organ and electronics, IBM 1401, A Users Manual is much more expansive in its new incarnation. A 60 piece string orchestra was recorded at Pragues legendary Smecky Studio and the four original movements were joined by a completely new finale. The final mix, which incorporates electronics and vintage reel-to-reel recordings of an IBM 1401 mainframe computer, took place in Reykjavik at the beginning of 2006.

Johann Johannssons many other projects include membership of the group Apparat Organ Quartet - hailed by Neil Strauss in the New York Times as being "as innovative and meticulous as Sigur Ros, but who sound nothing like it." Although Apparat Organ Quartet formed as far back as 1999, they only released their debut album internationally in 2006. The band has played extensively in the last couple of years, including appearances at the Roskilde festival, Londons ICA, the Holland festival, New York..s Central Park Summerstage and Pompidou Center in Paris. The band was featured in a segment of PBSs Frontline show in 2003.

Johann has also produced and written music with other artists; hes worked with Marc Almond (on the Stranger Things album), Barry Adamson, Pan Sonic, The Hafler Trio, Jaki Liebezeit and many others. After the success of IBM 1401, A Users Manual, Johanns collaboration with the internationally renowned choreographer and dancer Erna Omarsdottir continued in 2005 with a new piece entitled Mysteries Of Love.

Johanns music was been featured in the film Wicker Park (Paul McGuigan, 2004) as well as forming an integral part of several art projects such as Lev Manovichs Mission To Earth (MIT Press 2005) and Gregory Colberts acclaimed film haikus Ashes And Snow (2006). Music for films and theatre figure prominently in Johanns work. Johann has composed music for no fewer than 5 feature films in his native Iceland. His most recent is for the film Blodbond (2006) by Arni Olafur Asgeirsson. Johann..s soundtrack album for the film Dis was released in 2005 in the US and in 2006 in Japan. In addition to the feature films, Johann has written music for numerous documentaries, theatre productions and several contemporary dance works.

Johann Johannsson has also performed his solo music with his ensemble - which includes a string quartet and a percussionist - in Europe over the last couple of years, visiting venues such as the Pompidou Center in Paris and the Vooruit in Belgium, and appearing at music and arts festivals in Germany and England. The ensemble will be touring the UK at the end of 2006.

Johann is also a founder member of the Icelandic label / think tank / art collective Kitchen Motors, and the band Evil Madness.

Here is a new video by Magnus Helgason for Part I of IBM 1401, a User's Manual:


   Johann Johannsson's Friend Space (Top 15)
Johann Johannsson has 5951 friends.
 Runar Magnusson 


 BJNilsen 


 Apparat Organ Quartet 


 DJ Musician 


 Evil Madness 


 lost in hildurness 


 12 Tónar 


 Sylvain Chauveau + Felicia Atkinson 


 Marc Almond (Official) 


 Nikolai 


 Julia Kent 


 Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo 


 Baby Dee 


 David Tibet 


 Pantaleimon 





Johann Johannsson's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 651 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Hilow





Jul 4 2008 10:11 PM

Takk takk for the add.
Thanx for making so great music.
Hafðu samband! Keep in touch... Bless
FrìLoVa





Jul 4 2008 10:55 AM

Hi and thanx for the add.
Since I'm italian, I've been impressed by "Tu non mi perderai mai", so I wonder the choice of and italian title. However, I love your music.
Greets
*Rachael Eldritch~Böersen*





Jul 3 2008 6:04 AM

bluelove





Jul 1 2008 11:28 AM

..thank you so much for the add,
dear new friend!
Smiles to you, Marion


Photobucket
audiopoiesis





Jul 2 2008 7:39 AM

You stole the show on Sunday. I have never felt so strongly at a gig. It was beautifully over powering.
Rafskinna





Jul 2 2008 1:54 PM

Rafskinna 2
The Portman.





Jun 24 2008 2:40 PM

Thank you very much,
Shaun.
aerostatiks parliament





Jun 24 2008 4:28 PM

Photobucket
thnx for the add
Strings Of Consciousness





Jun 27 2008 12:28 AM

hello johann
Knowing that you like our music I thought I'd let you know that we have uploaded 4 new songs in our player, feel free to come listen...
They are from our second CD which is now released and should be available in fine record stores close to you

Strings of Counsciousness : Fantomastique Acoustica (CD - Off Rds)
www. myspace. com/offlabel

It offers 4 instrumental compositions + their remixes by:

Rothko (UK - BiP_HOp/Trace/Bella Union/Lo)
Mira Calix (UK - Warp)
Kammerflimmer Kollektief (DE - Staubgold)
Gamial Trio (BE - Off)
Leafcutter John (UK - Staubgold/Planet Mu)
Scanner (UK - Bette/Sub Rosa...)
Marsen Jules (DE - CCI)
Sutekh (US - Context/Leaf/Soul Jazz/Mille Plateaux)
Si-cut. db (UK - BiP_HOp)

+ 2 videos by Anne Sulikowsky and Olga Mink
Kira Kira





Jun 22 2008 4:09 PM

Photobucket
Robert Maher





Jun 18 2008 10:58 AM

Thanks for being my friend.

Come visit anytime and check out my tunes.

-R
Spira





Jun 16 2008 4:17 PM

This comment was sent by your friend via the Own Your Friends! app.

To block this app and all communications from it, click Here.




-------------------------------------------
Hey Johann Johannsson, I just bought you as my PET!
Click here to find out how much I think you're WORTH!


I BOUGHT YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! Your music IS AMAZZZZZZZZZZZZZING!

Evil Madness





Jun 17 2008 4:42 PM

Photobucket
Niamh [not NI-MA]





Jun 15 2008 2:27 PM

Hi Johann! Just a little line to say hi and to say we're looking forward to you all being here in a few weeks time!

See you soon!

Niamh @ Transmission
BRUNO RODENBACH





Jun 16 2008 10:46 AM

Hallo Johann,

I realy like your pure music.

I long for your concert in Ghent (Belgium)at the end of this year.

Kind regards,
Bruno Rodenbach, composer
TACOMA





Jun 12 2008 3:33 AM

Salut Johann, et merci de nous accepter parmi toi!

On est Tacoma, rock-electro de Paris... On espère que notre son passe bien dans les oreilles!

T.

Maël Isaac





Jun 8 2008 9:55 AM

hello johann!

my first album "phonographe" (16 french songs) is available, by order directly on my myspace page (by paypal) !



has soon!

mael
Katerina Kyrmizi





Jun 8 2008 1:38 AM

thank you so much for the add
incredible, inspiring music...
love and peace from Greece
hjörvar





Jun 3 2008 3:36 PM

kæri vinur
kíktu á ný lög af væntanlegri plötu frá mér

kv hjörvar
Return To Litany





May 27 2008 7:37 AM

Thank you a lot for the accept,your music is very very beautifull and your videos too.
headphonica





May 25 2008 9:20 AM

new music on headphonica. net:
click the pic
..
jan gruenfeld – ich liebe es

FREE DOWNLOAD


this works are actually recorded in the nice tourist town Dresden where Jan lived for 4 years and on several places in germany/thuringia and denmark/sjaeland +++ Jan recorded all with an old 4-track, one old minidisc-recorder, two old guitars and some old pedals and a brand new notebook+++Enrico Wuttke aka Flim helped him out with some Fieldrecordings and beautiful Piano Pieces+++ new tracks are growing every day on his minidisc-walkman he records woods, highways/autobahnen, shopping centers, farms, children rooms, camping sites, rehearsel rooms and roofgardens ...etc and himself and his friends and familys+++ since spring 2007 he lives on a farm in thuringia, germany+++to be continued +++

www. myspace. com/jangruenfeld

Greifenkeil





May 23 2008 11:32 AM

Friend,

the waiting is over :-)

Previously announced, here it is:
"Blood Mystery" is ready for you to journey....

There is magic ahead...
our psycho-acoustic industrial-psytrance drive will blow you away...

A special "Blood Mystery" ringtone for your mobile phone is available for free from our website.
Enjoy
Blood Mystery Ringtone

Snippets of all tracks are also available from there, and the album itself from every major retailer.

Quality reduced versions devoid of all psycho-acoustics and heart,
you know where to find....
Don't be fooled by cheap, cheap,
this is just a skeleton of Greifenkeil,
and is not helpful to us at all.

For upcoming events & performance dates check our MySpace profile regularly

Greifenkeil "Blood Mystery" out now!


Keep in touch, stay tuned

A. von Greifenkeil

Apjiw





May 22 2008 6:47 AM

thank you so much for the add

one of the most beautiful music here
i can't stop to listening

you are amazing !



Without music, life would be an error.
Friedrich Nietzsche

love and peace
Gaëtan





May 19 2008 1:27 AM

flemish landscape...

Photobucket
Evil Madness





May 19 2008 6:47 AM

WorriedAboutSatan (Leeds, UK)
EVIL MADNESS
DLX ATX

DJ Hoeness

@ Organ
Hafnarstræti 1-3
101 Reykjavik, Iceland
wed May 21st

Starts at 9:00

Evil DLX Satan... 666!PhotobucketPhotobucket
Kris





May 19 2008 10:07 PM

Hi Johann, great that you will be back in Ghent on october 4th. I'm so looking forward to your new album Fordlandia ! When can we expect some new songs in the musicplayer ?

All the best !

Kris
Abigail Hopkins





May 17 2008 10:33 AM

Abigail Hopkins' new album, 'The Memoirs Of An Outlaw' is available to pre-order from: www. basilicamusic. bigcartel. com The first 100 copies are signed and numbered!
Einar Stray





May 17 2008 11:08 AM

takk
ffragraff





May 16 2008 10:07 AM

Photobucket
Dreamer (On the sun)





May 16 2008 5:04 PM

Thank you for the add, I really enjoyed your show in Rome months ago (IBM)...touching :)
bleeding heart narrative





May 16 2008 8:09 AM

rodrigo





May 14 2008 9:37 AM

hello johann.
thank you for adding me, and thank you for the music you make.
the suns gone dim is incredible.
lots of love and