As Above... was an album released in 1982 by Þeyr, a legendary Icelandic New Wave and rock group and it was issued through Shout on a 12” vinyl record.
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Formed by 12 tracks, As above... contained English versions of the group’s hits. A song that outstands from the rest is “Killer Boogie”, a work deemed as an attempt by the group to achieve international trascendendy. “Killer Boogie” and “Rúdolf” are featured again in Rokk í Reykjavík (Rock in Reykjavík), a concert compilation released in 1982 with the presence of other renowned Icelandic bands. There is also a video for this compilation which was edited on VHS format only.
The remaining songs of this album were never reissued since the masters are believed to be lost. By 2001 Þeyr’s members and friends released a CD titled Mjötviður til Fóta which included songs from their first album, Mjötviður Mær and the single Iður til Fóta, both releases from 1981.
The cover design, which is exactly the same as in Mjötviður Mær was banned in the United Kingdom because of the photographs showing drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson naked. However, Mjötviður Mær was never banned because it was only released in Iceland.
Þeyr’s members were:
- Vocalist: Magnús Guðmundsson.
- Guitars: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson and Þorsteinn Magnússon.
- Bass: Hilmar Örn Agnarsson.
- Drums: Sigtryggur Baldursson.
Track listing
| Track | Title | Length | Lyrics | Audio clips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side A | ||||
| 01 | Homo Gestalt | 03:31 | - | - |
| 02 | Killer Boogie | 02:58 | - | - |
| 03 | Dead/Undead | 03:22 | - | - |
| 04 | Wolf | 02:51 | - | - |
| 05 | Technologos | 01:58 | - | - |
| 06 | Poème | 02:48 | - | - |
| Side B | ||||
| 01 | Current | 03:21 | - | - |
| 02 | Rúdolf | 02:49 | - | - |
| 03 | Are You Still There | 03:08 | - | - |
| 04 | Enough | 02:23 | - | - |
| 05 | Shout | 03:00 | - | - |
| 06 | Mjötviður | 02:55 | instrumental | - |
Track notes
- ”Homo Gestalt” is another version of “Life Transmission” which appeared in Úfrymi and Life Transmission (1981).
- ”Dead/Undead” is the English version of “Bás 12” which appeared in Mjötviður Mær (1981).
- ”Wolf” is the same as “Úlfur”, from Mjötviður Mær.
- ”Technologos” is the same as “2999” from Mjötviður Mær.
- ”Are You Still There” is the English version of “Tedrukkinn” from Mjötviður Mær.
- ”Enough” is the same as “Það er Nóg” from Mjötviður Mær.
- ”Shout” is the English version of “Ópið” from Mjötviður Mær.
- ”Mjötviður”, which was an instrumental track, is a few seconds longer than the version featured in Mjötviður til Fóta, a CD of 2001.
Credits
Production: Þeyr and Tony Cook.
Music: all tracks by Þeyr.
Lyrics: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, with the exception of “Killer Boogie” whose lyrics were created by Þeyr.
Backing vocals: A. Schichelgruber on the song “Rúdolf”.
Album and sleeve design: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson.
External links
- Page about Þeyr
- Website about the history and discography of Þeyr
- Tónlist.is - Page about Þeyr. It features mp3 samples (in Icelandic).
- Intravenous.de - Page about Icelandic music. It includes a section for Þeyr.
- Official site of Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson
- Page about G. K. Óttarsson at Isound.com
- Official site of Sigtryggur Baldursson