Geislar is a band I formed with some of my favourite musicians in the world: Sigríður Thorlacius, Ómar Guðjónsson, Óskar Guðjónsson, Valdimar Kolbeinn Sigurjónsson, and Magnús Trygvason Eliassen. Kjartan Kjartansson engineer / mixer and Dóra Ísleifsdóttir lyricist and graphic designer are also imperative members of this team.
“Exceptionally well done but difficult to categorize, It is both dreamy and kind of crazy. There is jazz in there but also bit like Portishead. Film music, as Styrmir is a filmmaker. [ … ] The texts describe different state of minds. All the music is composed by Styrmir and the arrangements are excellent. For instance, the last song on the album, the instrumental one, Resolution in Revolution. Beautiful and dreamy, how the piano and guitar weaves along with the strings. [ … ] I find this album exceptionally good. It doesn’t sound like anything else out there. I hope this band is here to stay as it is kind of a supergroup with all these great musicians. It is an album that really stands apart.”
– Andrea Jónsdóttir, Album of the week, RUV (Icelandic National Broadcasting Service)
“Geislar is the brainchild of musician and filmmaker Styrmir Sigurðsson. Along with him in the band are some of the most interesting musicians in Iceland and the whole album is very well done. Styrmir’s music is dark, beautiful and mysterious [ … ] The songs make up a cinematic world and at times it feels like a score to a film. It is a very interesting album and hopefully will Styrmir soon release more material. All the musicianship and production is topnotch, and I want to emphasise the string arrangements because they are perfect.”
– Hannes Friðbjarnarson, Fréttatíminn (newspaper)
**** “Styrmir has quite a distinctive style as a composer and you hear immediately it is him when you listen to Geislar. You can clearly hear his style. [ … ] Audiences have noticed the magic of the group in selected concerts recently. Geislar played a very impressive set at the last Airwaves festival were their harmonic alchemy was just perfect. [ … ] nighttime drama; dark pop, where film like epic and cool jazz go hand in hand. Styrmir Sigurðsson is a top musician, this is quality stuff as they say, and one could say that he has the luxury problem of being so talented in many, though related, fields.”
– Arnar Eggert Thoroddsen, Morgunblaðið (newspaper)
Album credits:
Geislar are: Magnús Trygvason Eliassen, drums, Ómar Guðjónsson, guitars and tuba, Óskar Guðjónsson, saxophones, Sigríður Thorlacius, vocals, Styrmir Sigurðsson, piano, keyboards and vocals, Valdimar Kolbeinn Sigurjónsson, basses and banjo
Music by: Styrmir Sigurðsson
Lyrics by: Dóra Ísleifsdóttir
Unnsteinn Manúel Stefánsson, vocals on Lifeguard. Rósa Guðrún Sveinsdóttir, vocals on Sponge and Worlds Colliding. Þórdís Gerður Jónsdóttir, vocals on Worlds Colliding. Frank Aarnink, cimbalom on Stone Cold Stone, Secret and Goodbye. Samúel Jón Samúelsson, trombone on Sponge and Goodbye
String arrangements by Styrmir Sigurðsson
Violins: Ari Vilhjálmsson, Hildur Ársælsdóttir, Pétur Björnsson, Guðbjartur Hákonarson, Sólveig Vaka Eyþórsdóttir.
Violas: Laufey Pétursdóttir, Vala Gestsdóttir
Cello: Þórdís Gerður Jónsdóttir
Produced by: Styrmir Sigurðsson
Co-produced by: Kjartan Kjartansson and Óskar Guðjónsson
Recorded and mixed by: Kjartan Kjartansson at Bíóhljóð
Mastered by: Styrmir Hauksson
Graphic design: Dóra Ísleifsdóttir
Photography: Sveinn Speight
Make up: Guðbjörg Huldís Kristinsdóttir
Wardrobe: Guðrún Ragna Sigurjónsdóttir