This is emotion-soaked music projected with a stylistic confidence that earned this band the highest rating (KKKKK) from Kerrang! magazine. These four musicians are the real deal, impressive at any scale: electric or unplugged, on the stage or in the studio. And it is their studio work that is most in the news today.
In November 2010 Agent Fresco released their first full-length CD, an ambitious 17-track concept album entitled A Long Time Listening. Recognized as “an amazing album by the best rock band in the country today” (Morgunblaðið), it was immediately shortlisted for best album of the year by Icelandic music critics of both national newspapers, as well as for a Kraumur Award, and for the Nordic Music Prize, not to mention climbing to #1 on the charts of the gogoyoko music download site. And the respect of their fellow musicians is reflected in the number of front-ranking Icelandic performers who volunteered to sing back-up chorus on the title track of the album.
Plans are now underway for an upcoming tour of Europe to capitalize on the publicity the album has generated, and to strengthen the recognition they acquired from previous concert & festival appearances in England, France (ClassEu’Rock 08’), Netherlands (Eurosonic 10’) Denmark & Czechoslovakia.
Recognition was not slow in coming to this group of music students when they formed Agent Fresco back in 2008 to compete in the annual Musíktilraunir (Battle of the Bands) competition, which they swept convincingly, winning not only the grand prize, but also individual prizes for best guitarist, best drummer and best bassist. Since then they have received a Kraumur Award for their 2008 EP Lightbulb Universe, and were declared Best New Band (Bjartasta Von) at the Icelandic Music Awards in 2009.
The strength of their performances at the Iceland Airwaves music festival has brought them to the attention of international media such as KEXP radio (Seattle) and Kerrang! magazine (London), who have posted online interviews and performances of Agent Fresco on their websites. More impressive still, they have attracted the attention of filmmakers Bowen Staines and Gunnar B. Guðbjörnsson, who included considerable footage of the band in their Iceland Airwaves documentary Where´s the Snow?! which premiered at the Reykjavík International Film Festival in 2010. The band received additional international publicity as the focus of two episodes in Bowen Staines´ Don´t Panic TV web series.
Critical attention is still sharply focused on this band in 2011 with their nomination for a prestigious DV Culture Award and three nominations for the Icelandic Music Awards: Performer of the Year (Agent Fresco), Vocalist of the Year (Arnór Dan Arnarson) and Rock Album of the Year (A Long Time Listening).
But what the critics now proclaim audiences have known ever since they heard Eyes of a Cloud Catcher on the radio 3 years ago. Before it was even released, the band played this song at their first Iceland Airwaves in 2008, staring out in disbelief at a sea of swaying hands as the entire audience sang the chorus back to them, a cappella. That tribute of affection, now a ritual at every performance, caused a blogger at Airwaves 2010 to write:
"Seriously, this band is so impressive and the way the entire room sings along to their stunning Eyes Of A Cloud Catcher is a moment that'll live long in the memory of all here." (Kerrang blog, Airwaves 2010)
Agent Fresco are:
Arnór Dan Arnarson: vocals
Hrafnkell Örn Guðjónsson: drums / percussion
Vignir Rafn Hilmarsson: bass / upright bass
Þórarinn Guðnason: guitar / piano / programming
Official Website: www.agentfresco.is
Destrier
Agent Fresco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Setting sun alights
I've combed each hardened hair with crooked fingers and shed my share
Tameless, still I climb
Reinless beast is mine
And we ride to face the stark blank sky
Blood is in our eyes
Death is all we see
Catacombs arise
Destrier and me
Galloping through night
Devastation breathes
Cannot close our eyes
Destrier and me
Blood is in our eyes
Not a word we need
Numb is a world of speed
Wild wind leaves licks of steel
When it is whistling with racing love
We won't slow our haste
When there's blood to taste
Let us ride to face the stark blank sky
Blood is in our eyes
Death is all we see
Catacombs arise
Destrier and me
The song "Destrier" by Agent Fresco is a thrilling and intense ride that captures the dangerous euphoria of charging into battle on a powerful horse. The lyrics describe the relationship between a wild and untamed stallion, the "destrier", and its rider who sheds his fear and inhibitions as they gallop towards death and destruction. The sweat on the horse's hide and the setting sun create a vivid sensory backdrop to the daring adventure. The rider combs each hair of the horse's mane with his crooked fingers, an intimate gesture that speaks to the deep bond between them.
The chorus expresses the bleak reality of the situation as "blood is in our eyes, death is all we see". The cataclysmic event that they are charging towards is like a catacomb rising up from the earth, foreboding and grim. The sheer power and speed of the horse and rider are conveyed through the use of words such as galloping, devastation, and racing love. Even in the midst of such chaos, the singer states that not a word is needed, as numbness and speed define their existence.
Overall, "Destrier" is an imaginative and passionate song that expertly captures the exhilaration and terror of being caught up in battle.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweat is thick on hide
The horse and I are weary from the climb and the sunsetting on our backs. The sweat is a visible sign of our fatigue.
Setting sun alights
The sun setting creates a beautiful yet dangerous view. Our journey has been long and violent.
I've combed each hardened hair with crooked fingers and shed my share
I have taken care of the horse and done everything in my power to ensure it's okay even if through hardship of my own.
Tameless, still I climb
Despite the harsh journey, I continue to move forward with strength and determination.
Reinless beast is mine
I have formed a unique bond with the horse and have earned its trust even without a reign to control it.
And we ride to face the stark blank sky
We face our journey as a team, prepared to face whatever obstacles come our way.
Blood is in our eyes
We are seeing the harshness of reality through the eyes of battle and death.
Death is all we see
The horrors of reality are inescapable and always present.
Catacombs arise
We are moving through a time of great change and turmoil, desperate to survive.
Destrier and me
The bond between horse and rider is the only thing keeping us alive in this harsh world.
Galloping through night
We continue to move forward despite the darkness that surrounds us.
Devastation breathes
Wherever we go, we find only destruction and desolation.
Cannot close our eyes
We cannot rest, we cannot let our guard down, even for a moment.
Not a word we need
We don't need words to communicate our intention, we act instinctually.
Numb is a world of speed
Though we are constantly on the move, we are in a state of numbness from the overwhelming and constant danger we face.
Wild wind leaves licks of steel
The wind is brutal and unforgiving, it feels like it's scraping metal against our skin.
When it is whistling with racing love
The wind fuels our movement and acts as a reminder of the force of nature that surrounds us.
We won't slow our haste
We cannot afford to slow down, we must continue to move with urgency.
When there's blood to taste
We are fighting for survival, and will do everything in our power to stay alive no matter the cost.
Let us ride to face the stark blank sky
We will continue to face whatever obstacles come our way as a team, moving forward together.
Contributed by Evelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@malerieglasser5276
Love this ❤️ I was on an Icelandair flight and was browsing the music, and came across Agent Fresco and this song, along with some of their others and fell in love!!
@SolidSmashies
Same here! I loved it so much, my wife and I went back for Iceland Airwaves just to watch them perform. Unreal band!
@malerieglasser5276
@@SolidSmashies that's awesome!! I'd love to go back Iceland to see them irl!
@T00THY_0RiFiCE
Wow what an amazing way to discover such a precious band
@BlurredVisi0n
Wow, just wow, I love the ultra heavy component worked in like that
@aronveress936
can't stop listening, AWESOME music. thumbs up (y). we'll be there in Vienna!
@Arca30
Brutal tone
@AliothSenator
We won’t slow our haste when there's blood to taste.
@Affinity001
Soen :)
@marciofirestorm
Best song <3