15 Years of GusGus!
The music group GusGus celebrates its 15 year anniversary this year, 2010. As a part of the anniversary celebrations GusGus has made a special combination LP. The name of the LP is “15 YEARS” and it features 21 tunes from 6 previous LPs made by the group. Two of the tunes are a remix, - one is Barry, remixed by Gigi Galaxy. The other one is the tune Hateful, remixed by by Ada & Mayburg, issued last year on Total 11, a combination record released on KOMPAKT.
The anniversary LP is issued by the Smekkleysa record company. All the tunes on the combination LP are specially edited and remastered for this anniversary issue in order to make the clear core of each tune shine through at its best. Even though listeners may have heard most of the tunes before, it will be obvious that these versions are different in such a tight form.
GusGus was originally a group of artists who were trying to combine the art of music and visual arts. This was done with performances on stage and in film. The group was established in 1995 through the work on a short subject film called Nautn/Pleasure. In 1996 GusGus signed a recording contract with 4AD in England and Warner Bros. in the United States, followed by series of long concert tours in Europe and the United States. The GusGus group has gone through several changes in membership. Today GusGus is the total of three artists: Biggi Veira (Birgir Þórarinsson), President Bongo (Stephan Stephensen) and Daniel Ágúst. All three are founding members of the original group.
The tunes on this anniversary LP are the tunes most popular in the GusGus timespan. Among them you´ll find David, Ladyshave, Moss, Hold you, and Add This Song. Some of the tunes have been unavailable for some time, for example the tune "Why" sung by Emiliana Torrini. The anniversary LP gives you the opportunity to listen to the GusGus voices and sounds from the beginning of the group. The GusGus artists have also shown their talents in various forms of their art – from avant garde sounds to club hits.
In addition to the LPs GusGus has remixed music by Björk, Sigur Rós, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk and Moloko. GusGus tunes have also been remixed by other performers and been included on international combination recordings. The tune "Moss" was one of the compositions selected for the combination record Underground 2008 featuring the best of electronic music at that time.
The GusGus music group has sold over half a million records internationally. It is well known in electronic music circles. It is therefore appropriate to issue a combination record in order to celebrate the anniversary – as the GusGus tunes have been heard in anniversaries and birthday parties for years.
Happy anniversary GusGus !
