Critically praised throughout Europe, Automagic is a wondrous album that pairs Asgeirsson's intricate sound constructions with a potent rhythm section and the haunting, otherworldly vocals of Gudridur Ringsted. Her ethereal singing peppers a record that flits between ambient dream pop and slightly menacing electro-organic music with beats.
Ringsted shines brightest on a risky cover of Joy Division's beloved "Love Will Tear Us Apart," a dramatically different take on a classic that was recorded as a request from Thule Musik's owner. "He wanted to hear a chillout version with female vocals," Asgeirsson notes. "The result was very surprising, and everybody liked it, so we decided to put it alongside the other tracks we'd previously recorded for Automagic
" Elsewhere, Worm Is Green focus on creating their own memorable songs, starting in Asgeirsson's bedroom, and in one case, at his grandfather's jewelry shop, where he recorded samples of Icelandic stones rubbing together and turned them into beats. Once the original ideas are in place, the musicians craft the songs in the studio. While the band's music has dark overtones, a sense of humor comes across in songs like "The Robot Has Got The Blues," and in the quirky melodic turns of the aquatic "Walk Thru."
"We take our work seriously, but the humor is what keeps us together," says Asgeirsson.
This playfulness carries over into the band's own description of its hard to peg sound. Jonsson once told a Finnish TV interviewer, "We are like Lionel Richie. Only newer. And not with The Commodores.
" Perhaps, but a more apt comparison is to British new wave and pop, Factory and 4AD bands, even Portishead. That's all for others to ponder, though, while Worm Is Green stay trained on the future. Automagic earned them a nomination for best new act in Iceland's music awards, and the band was still gelling as the record came together. Now with a few years of experience both in the studio and on stage, the musicians are on a mission to develop their sound further. Plans include adding more vocals and touring extensively.
"We consider our live show being our greatest aspect," says Asgeirsson. "We deliver electronic music in a new way, with a live drummer, vocals, bass player and two synth maniacs. It's very chilled out and laid back, but everything is possible. We've played shows more reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails than Worm Is Green.
" Until you get a chance to see Worm Is Green live, check out Automagic, a record that aligns the band with Iceland's skewed geniuses (Bjork, Sigur Ros) and incorporates sounds that conjure up images of purple sunsets, jagged cliffs and stark landscapes. However, as Asgeirsson puts it, "We aren't really walking on glaciers on an everyday basis."
Arni Teitur Asgeirsson- Programming & Synthesizer
Bjarni Thor Hannesson- Sampler & Synthesizer
Thorsteinn Hannesson- Drums
Vilberg Hafsteinn Jonsson- Bass
Gudridur Ringsted- Vocals
Shine
Worm Is Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He starts his day
Far away from being
O.k
The snow from his TV set
Revolves around his head
Stars from the night before
Still shine on the floor
Stars from the night before
Still on the floor
The song "Shine" by Worm Is Green, featuring Ragnar Kjartansson from Trabant, depicts a person who has not started his day in a good mood. He is far away from being okay, indicating that he might be going through some emotional distress. The mention of snow from his TV set revolving around his head is a metaphorical way of suggesting that he feels trapped and unable to escape his troubles. The snow on the TV is a sign that there is nothing worth watching, indicating that the person is unable to get any sense of escape from the harsh reality of his life.
The stanza, "Stars from the night before still shine on the floor" is another poignant metaphor that highlights the person's longing for better times. The stars from the night before have left their mark on the floor, and their presence symbolizes the person's yearning for the past. Perhaps the person is grappling with the realization that he has lost something precious, and that feeling is reflected in the song.
The lyrics to "Shine" are hauntingly beautiful and relatable to anyone who has struggled to cope with negative emotions. The song strives to convey a sense of hope and strength, despite the darkness that seems to surround the person.
Line by Line Meaning
He starts his day
He begins a new day
Far away from being
Not quite in a good state of mind
O.k
Emphasizing that he is not in a good condition
The snow from his TV set
Visualizing snowy white noise on his TV screen
Revolves around his head
The snowy screen image is stuck in his mind
Stars from the night before
The beautiful memories of the past night
Still shine on the floor
The afterglow of the enjoyable night is still present
Stars from the night before
Reiterating the past beautiful memories
Still on the floor
The aftereffects of the memorable time are still present
Contributed by Carter W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.