Dikta have been very busy and the outcome has been inspirational so far. Not only have they recently signed a licensing deal with MTV to have some of their songs used in a new show called ”The City,” but they have finished a new song called Let Go!

Let Go follows up their last single, Just Getting Started, and gives us a glimpse into what we can expect from their next album. Lucky for everyone, they have been kind enough to upload the song to their MySpace page for you to hear. http://www.myspace.com/dikta

We anxiously await more from this amazing group. In the meantime, you can find plenty of music by them at our webshop: http://smekkleysa.grapewire.net/shop/dikta

Also, If you are in Reykjavík on March 20th, 2009 you can see Dikta perform at Sódóma Reykjavík (formerly Gaukur Á Stöng).

Gus Gus are on the road trying out material from their new album 24/7 and have just announced both DJ and Live gigs around Europe! Here are the confirmed dates so far:

06 Mar – Gus Gus DJ Set @ Jolene, Copenhagen (Denmark)
07 Mar – Gus Gus DJ Set @ Monza, Frankfurt (Germany)
13 Mar – Gus Gus DJ Set @ Space Garage, Riga (Latvia)
14 Mar – Gus Gus DJ Set @ Datinn, Akureyri (Iceland)
20 Mar – Gus Gus LIVE @ Nasa!!, Reykjavík (Iceland)
10 Apr – Gus Gus LIVE @ TBC, Akureyri (Iceland)
12 Apr – Gus Gus DJ Set @ Rota Sonne, Munich (Germany)
02 May – Gus Gus DJ Set @ Liquid, Augsburg (Germany)

http://smekkleysa.grapewire.net/shop/gus-gus
http://gusgus.grapewire.net/

The release will be availble as Standard, Deluxe and Deluxe Vinyl.

Björk did document the tour extensively and now we will be able to enjoy this work in a new light and new sound.

Voltaic will include:

• DISC ONE (AUDIO) Songs From The Volta Tour Performed Live At Olympic Studios
• DISC TWO (DVD) The Volta Tour Live In Paris, Live in Reykjavik
• DISC THREE (DVD) The Volta Videos and the video competition
• DISC FOUR (CD) The Volta Mixes.

Release date is yet to be confirmed. we predict March! :)

Gus Gus, the cosmetic animal, has kept underground as well as on distant
(fishing-)banks for the past few weeks.
GusGus, as you know, is ever searching and plotting, but always returning with a good catch in the stomach, following a well planned search on the analogue fields of Germany..s Bayern as well as in stony
and snow-covered mountain areas of Iceland.

GusGus has kept away from daily toss and toil, consumed good and nourishing food, – making complete use of each and every calorie, because GusGus knows very well that in order to work on difficult and
demanding projects you need the best raw materials available.

Today..s project is the next studio album, their sixth one. This album
has been given the professional name of “24/7″, a name very typical
for GusGus. GusGus is, of course, the multimedia band, an audio-visual
collective that you could often describe as being a triheaded animal.
Some times they remind you of an animal from a different planet or
from an adventure tale, and sometimes they are like a gigantic whale
that scientists follow to previously unknown, munificent fishing
grounds.

It should be obvious that a triheaded animal has three heads – and in this case
their names are Daniel Agust, President Bongo and Veiran. This animal
is superior to other animals, because this animal utilizes technical
aspects produced by men for men, women, and even children. You see,
GusGus had a Bayern genius build a specially designed analogue modules
in a system called Doepfer A-100. The designer who is responsible for
the A-100, Dieter Döpfer, has designed similar instruments for the
last three scores of years, meeting the special needs of various
famous musicians such as GusGus.

The Doepfer-instrument, the A-100, played a major part in GusGus
performances last year. The A-100 sound engrossed the membranes of
astonished concert and club audiences in the international cities of
Reykjavik, Berlin, Moscow and Tokyo – and the reaction from these good
people indicated both pleasure and astonishment. With visual memories
from these cities, GusGus brought the A-100, a sound system for club
performances, their wardrobe, combs and brylcream, to the TANK in
Önundarfjordur in Iceland and recorded the spinal support for the
“24/7.”

Most of the spinal work is original materials coming from the “intestines” of GusGus.
“On the Job” is a phrenetic song of the working man to the unbroken animal called
love. Then on “Thin Ice” the bloated donkey goes out on the ice to dance. And on “Add
This Song” the listener is encouraged to add – the song in question – to his collection.

The GusGus analogue sound environment has never been better and Daniel
Agust..s singing reigns again and thus opens the group..s variability to new heights.
As on previous occasions GusGus performs a song written by Jimi Tenor, the fantastic
“Take me Baby” where Jimi is a guest singer. “Hateful” is a pretty familytype song that
GusGus and Aaron-Carl composed together while being on different sides of the
Atlantic. GusGus and Aaron-Carl, on one hand, and Jimi Tenor on the other,
enjoy a mutual respect and friendship. You can tell from these songs that a further
cooperation between these fine artists would not be a surprise in the future.

GusGus is putting a final touch on “24/7″ Therefore, only a selected few have had the
opportunity to listen. But among the lucky ones are record labels, international companies
that have shown their pleasure, enthusiasm and even reverence for the A-100, the animal,
and the whale !

Probably the biggest dance export from Iceland, Gus Gus have been bringing their incredible energy in different forms since 1995.  Their albums Polydistortion, This Is Normal, Attention, & Forever have been instant classics to many, and they have just announced that their new album is ready to be released!

The album will be 56 minutes long with 5 tracks:
1. Thin Ice
2. Hatefull
3. On The Job
4. Take Me Baby
5. Add This Song

Daníel Ágúst and Jimi Tenor will be providing vocals on the songs.

While we wait for their new album, please be sure to check out their amazing catalogue of music available at:  http://smekkleysa.grapewire.net/shop/gus-gus

Colourful nine-piece, Hjaltalín, have begun their first ever European tour. They will continue bringing their vivid, melodic palette of sound to the masses until January 24th, by which time they will have taken in Denmark, Germany, Benelux, France, Austria, Switzerland and the UK. Along the way the band will stop at two infamous festivals Eurosonic in Holland and Midem in Cannes. That’s 18 shows in 17 days! Dates and venues below:

Hjaltalín European tour January 2009

Wed 14 LU, Luxembourg – Exit 07
Thu 15 NL, Eurosonic – Schouwburg
Fri 16 NL, Groningen – Plato Instore
Fri 16 NL, Eurosonic – Magic Mirror tent
Sat 17 BE, Maldegem – Cafe Maison
Sun 18 BE, Brussels – Botanique w/ Finn.
Mon 19 DE, Cologne – Cologne Music Week
Tue 20 FR, Paris – Cafe de la Danse w/ Mugison
Wed 21 FR, Midem – Magic Mirrors
Thu 22 UK, Brighton – The Freebutt
Fri 23 UK, London – Luminaire
Sat 24 UK, Coventry, Kasbah

Hjaltalín have also recently released a new single titled Stundarkorn. It is now available at the Smekkleysa webshop at http://www.smekkleysa.net/shop/hjaltalin/stundarkorn

Our own Kira Kira is currently on the road, touring around Europe!  Don’t miss your chance to see her as she comes to a city near you.

If you’re not familiar with Kira Kira, check out the myspace page at:  www.myspace.com/trallaladykirakira or check out her music at the Smekkleysa Webshop at: http://www.smekkleysa.net/shop/kira-kira

Here are the dates:
14 Jan 2009, 20:00 – Elfer Music Club, Frankfurt GERMANY

15 Jan 2009, 20:00 – Feinkostlampe, Hannover GERMANY

16 Jan 2009, 20:00 – KFZ, Marburg GERMANY

17 Jan 2009, 21:00 – Cafe Cairo, Würzburg GERMANY

18 Jan 2009, 20:00 – Asta Kneipe, Rosenheim GERMANY

19 Jan 2009, 20:00 – Madame Claude, Berlin GERMANY

20 Jan 2009, 21:00 – Cafe Mule, Leipzig GERMANY

21 Jan 2009, 21:00 – AZ Conni, Dresden GERMANY

22 Jan 2009, 20:00 – Fluc, Wien AUSTRIA

23 Jan 2009, 20:30 – Rockhouse, Salzburg AUSTRIA

24 Jan 2009, 21:30 – Bad Bonn, Düdingen SWITZERLAND

25 Jan 2009, 21:30 – Mariaberg, Rorschach SWITZERLAND

30 Jan 2009, 21:30 – Recyclart, Brussels BELGIUM

01 Feb 2009, 20:00 – Maison, Maldegem BELGIUM

03 Feb 2009, 20:00 – L’International, Paris FRANCE

04 Feb 2009, 22:30 – USVA, Groningen NETHERLANDS

05 Feb 2009, 20:00 – Astra Stube, Hamburg GERMANY

06 Feb 2009, 20:00 – Huset i Magstræde, Copenhagen DENMARK

07 Feb 2009, 20:00 – Nordklang Festival, Zürich SWITZERLAND

Then on December 22nd, Radio X 97.7 is holding a brilliant Christmas Benefit concert at Dillon in downtown Reykjavík. This show will start at 18:00 and cost 977 kronur. The night will feature performances by both Dikta and Dr. Spock, along with Vicky, Ourlives, Sign, The Viking Giant Show, Dynamo Fog, and many more! That’s a lot of music for the price.

Dr. Spock’s latest album, Falcon Christ, is still going strong in Iceland. It’s been getting regular radio play and the band have been touring around the country for it the past month. The album would make a great Christmas present for any fan of rock or Icelandic music you know.

And while we wait for the new song by Dikta (called Let Go, which should be coming in the next coming weeks), we remind you of their amazing Christmas song. They recorded an old traditional Icelandic Christmas song called “Nottin var su ágaet ein” which translates to ‘That delightful night.’ The song was recorded in December 2007 to capture the true Christmas spirit.

You can find this beautiful track now at our webshop here: http://www.smekkleysa.net/album/339

Hope everyone is having a nice holiday season!