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The Curse of the Singapore Sling
Singapore Sling
Stinky Records, 2004
by Dr. Christian Carey
Coverage of Icelandic music here in the United States has been focused, perhaps too myopically, on the triumvirate of Múm, Sigur Rós, and Björk; while all of them deserve the accolades, here is a Reykjavik-based group releasing a debut that may soon be sharing the limelight. Singapore Sling provides quite another view of Iceland from the atmospheric and often pastoral sonic world of the three aforementioned acts. This alternate soundscape is more urban, grittier: psych-tinged indie rock with post-punk inflections.The band's three-guitar line-up allows plenty of opportunities for an almost overwhelming frontal assault, as on "Twisted and Sick" and "Curse Curse Curse." Singapore Sling is not a band in any hurry; on songs such as "Nightlife" and "Life is Killing my Rock 'N Roll," they settle into a heavy rock groove and hang there for a while; vocalist Henrik Björnsson marshals a sepulchral bass, oozing cool, over patter-like refrains. The band seems so comfortably self-assured while building walls of trippy distortion that you'll be glad to hang right there with them for the duration.
-November 2, 2004