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
Wait for Me
Agent Fresco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had the heaviest heart on hold with the weight of gold.
I've slowed my feet on these tired grounds where deep dread still grows.
I can't be near with these flowers I've picked, I fear, they've all lost their colors.
Time spread their arms toward the heavens and bowed down to hell.
Have I been giving you up for more?
We've all lost love.
Wait for me.
Have I been giving you up for more?
You know I'm keeping you all inside this light of mine.
I can't see clear.
The rage of rivers roam every tear.
They all fall through vague and vast tunnels.
With hurts of hatred came blinding years.
Will they disappear?
I'm far away, treading a path I've made and it's laid with stones of fallen love.
I need to feel and to make atonement before coming home.
Have I been giving you up for more?
We've all lost love.
Words would be withered without you.
Wait for me.
Have I been giving you up for more?
You know I'm keeping you all inside.
Will you wait for me?
Have I been giving you up for more?
We've all lost love.
Words would be withered without you.
Wait for me.
Have I been giving you up for more?
You know I'm keeping you all inside this light of mine.
Have I been giving you up for more?
The opening lines of "Wait for Me" by Agent Fresco sets a heavy tone as the singer shares their feeling of being out of control- a sentiment that is echoed throughout the song with repeated declarations of losing love and needing to make atonement. This opening line, in particular, can be interpreted in a few different ways- perhaps the singer is struggling with addiction, or maybe feeling overwhelmed with the consequences of their actions. The image of a heavy heart being held with the weight of gold is a powerful image, suggesting that the singer is carrying a great burden that is both valuable and painful to hold.
The second verse continues with metaphors and symbolic language, describing the singer's surroundings as a place where deep dread still grows, and his/her feet are slow on tired grounds. The flowers that have lost their colors represent the loss of beauty and vitality in the world around them. The lyric "time spread their arms toward the heavens and bowed down to hell" can be interpreted in many different ways, but it seems that the singer is feeling stuck in time, unable to move forward or backwards, and perhaps feeling trapped in a cycle of unhealthy behaviors.
The chorus repeats the question "Have I been giving you up for more?" which suggests that the singer has been neglecting someone or something important in their life in pursuit of something that is ultimately unsatisfying. The repeated phrase "Wait for me" highlights the sense of guilt or regret that the singer is feeling, and the final plea "Will you wait for me?" shows the vulnerability and desperation that lies beneath the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
I've lost control.
I'm no longer in charge of my life.
Had the heaviest heart on hold with the weight of gold.
I was holding onto something valuable that was weighing me down.
I've slowed my feet on these tired grounds where deep dread still grows.
I feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the negativity in my surroundings.
I can't be near with these flowers I've picked, I fear, they've all lost their colors.
I don't want to be around the things (or people) that used to bring me joy but no longer do.
Time spread their arms toward the heavens and bowed down to hell.
Time has a way of both bringing good things (heavens) and bad things (hell).
Have I been giving you up for more?
Am I sacrificing our relationship for something else that may not be worth it?
We've all lost love.
Everyone experiences heartbreak and loss of love at some point in their lives.
Words would be withered without you.
You are the person who brings meaning and life to my words.
Wait for me.
Please be patient with me as I work on myself and my life.
You know I'm keeping you all inside this light of mine.
You are very important to me and I hold you close to my heart.
I can't see clear.
I feel lost and confused about my future.
The rage of rivers roam every tear.
The emotions I'm experiencing feel overwhelming and uncontrollable like a raging river.
They all fall through vague and vast tunnels.
My emotions feel like they're vanishing without direction or purpose.
With hurts of hatred came blinding years.
The pain and anger I've experienced have caused me to feel stuck and unable to see a positive future.
Will they disappear?
I'm hoping that my negative emotions will eventually fade away.
I'm far away, treading a path I've made and it's laid with stones of fallen love.
I'm distancing myself from past relationships and focusing on finding a new path forward.
I need to feel and to make atonement before coming home.
I need time to reflect on my actions and make amends before being able to reconcile with those I care about.
Contributed by Mia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chrisglass4350
10/10 - Agent Fresco will break your heart over and over again in the best kind of way
@sorenbuenneke6434
I just cried. Thank you for making this beautiful song
@pavanellibooks
When you think that its almost impossible to a unique style appears nowadays, you discover this band and your mind blows.
@ghostirisdk
Nothing short of amazing. Agent Fresco = Originality.
Nobody sounds like them.
Cheers from your (somewhat) fellow countrymen.
- Ghost Iris
@wren4077
AH I love you Ghost Iris and I love Fresco
Man this is so great
The prog community is so big yet so small
@richardaversa7128
"Nobody sounds like them." Bro they literally sound exactly like Leprous
@richardaversa7128
(which is awesome, of course)
@Dontlettheworldrot
i have lost both of my parents 4 years ago, and when i think of them, this song comes to my head, thank you guys, thanks for holding me up
@shax3437
I lost my grandmother who raised me since birth in July this year. This song is very cathartic for me, and im so grateful for your music, which I firmly believe saved my life. Thank you.
@jesd5578
Anyone else had this song sent to them as a personal message. How can it not make my heart melt...