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Múgsefjun
Múgsefjun
The music of Múgsefjun is somewhat difficult to sum up. It’s a melting
pot of different genres and styles ranging from alternative country and
folk to progressive rock. Those that have tried describing Múgsefjun’s
music to others are usually reduced to naming other bands and musicians
which kinda sound like Múgsefjun...and that’s a list that has a
tendency to grow rather long.
The lineup of the band is rather unorthodox, featuring an
accordion player in tandem with the more familiar combination of drums,
bass and guitars. Add intricate vocal harmonies to this peculiar lineup
and you’ve got a very distinct sound.
Múgsefjun was originally formed in 2004 by Hjalti Þorkelson
and Björn Heiðar Jónsson, two best friends since early childhood. The
name of the band came from a term often used by a teacher at their
music school for describing cheap tricks to please the common
undemanding listener. They undoubtedly adopted the name with a hint of
irony because even though they write clever lyrics and catchy melodies,
they often bury them in complex arrangements and odd time signatures.
Hjalti and Björn were soon joined by Björn’s close relative Sveinn Ingi
Reynisson on the accordion and as far as they were concerned, the band
was complete with Hjalti and Björn playing acoustic guitars and Hjalti
singing lead vocals.
In the year 2005 they decided to change things around and add a bass
player and a drummer to the band. Brynjar Páll Björnsson was drafted to
play the bass. Finding a permanent drummer however proved elusive.
After searching for a couple of months without any results, Björn
Heiðar decided to take on the drumming duties until a replacement was
found in Þorsteinn Már Jónsson. Þorsteinn then quit in the beginning of
2007 and was replaced by their current drummer, Eiríkur Fannar
Torfason.