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
Eyes of a Cloud Catcher
Agent Fresco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you should
try to sleep
you're in every single part of me
i hope that you know
Try to sleep
you should
sister wet his lips
mother bless his trip
i hope that he knows
we'll follow
We are, we are
all here by your side
We are, we are
all here tonight
We are, we are
old here by your side
we are all here
in mourning light
Try to sleep
you should
try to sleep
warm summer wind
blows these white sheet sails
the sundial ship awaits him
Try to leap
you should
try to reach
into highest air
you're almost there
as long as you know
we miss you
We are, we are
all here by your side
We are, we are
all here tonight
We are, we are
old here by your side
we are all here
in mourning light
The song "Eyes of a Cloud Catcher" by Agent Fresco is a heartfelt and emotional tribute to a loved one who has passed away. The opening lines of the song encourage the person to "try to sleep" and reassure them that they are a part of the singer's being. The lyrics are a poignant reminder that the person who has passed away will always be with the singer, even though they are no longer physically present.
The verses of the song focus on different individuals in the deceased person's life. The lines "sister wet his lips" and "mother bless his trip" suggest that the person was surrounded by family members as they passed away. The chorus repeats the lines "we are all here by your side" and "we are all here in mourning light," emphasizing the sense of community and solidarity in grief.
The imagery in the song is particularly powerful, with references to the "white sheet sails" and the "sundial ship" evoking a sense of journey and transition. The final lines of the song encourage the person to "try to reach / into highest air" and reassure them that they are "almost there" as long as they know they are missed.
Overall, "Eyes of a Cloud Catcher" is a moving tribute to a loved one who has passed away, with lyrics that are both poetic and deeply emotional.
Line by Line Meaning
Try to sleep
It's time to rest and relax
you should
It's a suggestion to try and sleep
you're in every single part of me
You deeply affect my emotions and my being
i hope that you know
I want you to understand how important you are to me
sister wet his lips
Family is taking care of the person
mother bless his trip
Family wishes the person well on their journey
i hope that he knows
It's important for the person to know they are loved
we'll follow
The person won't be alone on their journey
We are, we are
We are united and present
all here by your side
We are supporting and comforting the person
all here tonight
We are together in this moment
old here by your side
We have been here supporting the person for a while
in mourning light
We are grieving and honoring the person
warm summer wind
A peaceful, natural element
blows these white sheet sails
Movement and travel
the sundial ship awaits him
The journey is approaching
Try to leap
Don't be afraid to take risks
you should
It's a suggestion to take the leap
try to reach
Aim for your goals and aspirations
into highest air
Reach for the sky and your dreams
you're almost there
You're closer to your goals than you think
as long as you know
Believe in yourself and don't give up
we miss you
We care for the person and will miss them on their journey
Contributed by Nathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Madai Camacho
Try to sleep you should try to sleep you're in every single part of me i hope that you know Try to sleep you should
try to sleep
sister wet his lips mother bless his trip i hope that he knows we'll follow We are, we are all here by your side We are, we are all here tonight
We are, we are
old here by your side we are all here in mourning light Try to sleep you should try to sleep warm summer wind blows these white sheet sails the sundial ship awaits him Try to leap you should try to reach into highest air you're almost there as long as you know we miss you We are, we are all here by your side We are, we are all here tonight We are, we are old here by your side we are all here in mourning light
Job van Dongen
This song is about him saying goodbye to his father dying of cancer. I think it captures that feeling incredibly well...
Mateusz Józefiak
I have interested in islandic music before and islandic musicians suprise me all the time. I have never listened so diffrent rock band as Agent Fresco. They have own style and sensitivity. The most amazing thing during listening their music, I see so much space. It make me feel like I don't want to live their world.
KatOfFuture
You should check out stuff like The Mars Volta, they're a bit more experimental but somewhat similar and also pretty unique.
Brian Smalley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDQU1A6BL1Y&t=2852s
Leprous and Agent Fresco tour together. Leprous's latest album (Malina) is a lot like Agent Fresco.
Cade Peake
The way he swings his voice! This is sick!!
Ian McHale
wow that scream at the end was unreal! wish they incorporated more of that harsh sound to balance the beautiful melodies.
n mac
Yes agreed the snarl would be cool more present
Rakfisk
they do, live.
luke walden
Really incredible stuff. Glad I stumbled across them. I'll always have my own unique taste in music, but I wish more people would be into music like this. Great album, along with Destrier.
Catherine Sullivan
Did you like them?!