Þursaflokkurinn

Written Þursaflokkurinn (Eng. about The Thursen - band, the name could also be translated as The Party of the giant but ) simplified Thursaflokkurinn, is an Icelandic progressive rock band that was mainly active in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Since its inception in Reykjavík in 1978, the group of Egill Ólafsson (vocals, keyboards and acoustic guitar ), guitarist Þórður Arnason, bassoonist Rúnar Vilbergsson, bassist and drummer Tomas Tómasson Ásgeir Óskarsson existed.

Þursaflokkurinn (often Hinn íslenzki Þursaflokkur called ) played between 1978 and 1980 primarily rock music from the progressive and folky region, the texts have been completely presented in Icelandic. For example, was the debut album of the band, Hinn íslenzki Þursaflokkur, except for two instrumental pieces, a collection of old Icelandic folk songs that have been plugged in accordance with a rock / progressive outfit. This includes, for example, a seven-minute funeral march, which is merely submitted to large parts of drum, harmonium, bass and somber vocals. For the second album, Þursabit, also joined by keyboardist Charles still Sighvatsson to the band, so Þursabit a rather keyboard and Hammond organ -heavy board was.

Finally in 1980, a live performance of the band was recorded and transcribed under the name Á hljómleikum as vinyl record on the market. There are next to songs from the first two albums to hear new material, including three long about 10 minutes compositions from the jazz-rock area and a fast rock ' n' roll number at the end.

The fourth album Gæti one verið ... of 1982 marked a significant change of style: from now on was the music of Þursaflokkurinn to settle more in the area of pop, new wave and rock music, as the acoustic instruments almost completely and keyboards synthesizers were replaced. Also bassoonist Rúnar Vilbergsson was no longer working from there on in the band.

After recording a new album in 1983 and 1984, the group split up for the time being, partly because the band larger commercial success since its establishment were not to be recorded. The band members went Meanwhile, for other activities. Egill Ólafsson singer was also active as a writer in that time, for example, in addition to musical activities, some other band members founded the rock band Stuðmenn. From time to time, but they met in the 1990s, again, to play on Icelandic festivals as Þursaflokkurinn, for example, at the Memorial Festival of who died in 1991 keyboardist Karl Sighvatsson.

The early 1990s was still the CD release of the original albums; only the live album was only in 2008, republished as part of the anniversary box set Þursar ( see below).

2000, the group then brought the compilation Nútíminn on the market, a collection of pieces of their three studio albums - named after a song of their debut LP, which in German translates as something like " New Times " means.

At its thirtieth anniversary in February 2008, the band started a concert series with the small Icelandic orchestra caput and released a box set that their 4 albums " Hinn íslenzki Þursaflokkur ", " Þursabit ", " Á hljómleikum " and " Gæti verið one ... "and the previously unreleased CD Ókomin forneskjan includes what unreleased material and live recordings that have arisen 1978-1991 ( as well as the complete 1983/1984er recordings) includes.

A live recording of one of the jubilee concerts from 2008, the end of November 2008 Hinn Íslenski Þursaflokkur above Caput released on CD and DVD.

Discography

• Hinn íslenzki Þursaflokkur (1978 )
• Þursabit (1979)
• Á hljómleikum (1980 )
• Gæti one verið ... (1982 )
• Nútíminn - Bestu lög Þursaflokksins 1978-1982 ( " Best Of ... " ) (2000 )
• Þursar (all four albums from 1978 to 1982 ) (2008 ) contains: Ókomin forneskjan (Bonus CD of " Þursar " sets with unreleased material )

• Progressive rock band
• Icelandic band