Einar Arnaldur Melax

Einar Arnaldur Melax (Reykjavik, May 12, 1962) is an Icelandic composer, musician, keyboardist for various Icelandic groups, and maker of classical music instruments and for sound processing.

Biography

Melax's artistic work began with the neo-surrealist group Medúsa, along with Þór Eldon Jonson, Jóhamar, Matthías Magnússon, Ólafur Jóhann Engilbertsson, Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson —also known as Sjón— performing poetry and visual arts. Later, the experimental group Fan Houtens Kókó participated, releasing two cassettes: Musique Elementaire in 1981, and Mister K in 1982.

In 1983 Melax published Lubbi Litabók, a coloring book that was published through Medúsa. Also in 1983 the group disintegrated and the same year, Einar Melax was invited by a DJ from a radio station decided to bring together the avant-garde artists of the moment for his farewell, among them were also Þór Eldon, Einar Örn Benediktsson — by Purrkur Pillnikk—, Björk by Tappi Tíkarrass, Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson, Sigtryggur Baldursson —both from Þeyr— and finally Birgir Mogensen —from Með Noktum—. After composing and rehearsing for two weeks, they introduced themselves under the name of KUKL —"Sorcerer" in Icelandic. Although KUKL's style was of a dark gothic rock style in the vein of Killing Joke and avant-garde references to The Fall's afterpunk, it was later defined by Björk as "existential hardcore jazz punk".

While touring Iceland they performed with Crass, and later visited the UK for a series of performances with Flux of Pinks Indians. KUKL produced The Eye in 1984. Meanwhile, Melax publishes his second book, entitled Lautinant Tómas Trélitabók through his group Medúsa and dedicates himself to working on the music of various student theater productions and participates in another band made up of Björk, Þór Eldon, and the musician and poet Sjón under the name of Rokka Rokka Drum. The group dissolves without producing any releases despite having recorded a demo whose content is unknown and believed to have been lost since 1986.

In 1985 he published Sexblaðasóley (Misþyrmt af Kú), the last book to come out through Medúsa.

The Eye was followed by Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought) in 1986 which, like the previous record, was released through Crass Records. By this time, guitarist Þór Eldon had been dating Björk, who was pregnant, so KUKL became a very intense task. The band broke up and in the summer of 1986 several members of the band, including Melax, formed The Sugarcubes.

On June 8, 1986, Björk gave birth to Sindri Eldon Þórsson —who would later start as bassist for the group Desidia—, a date that is also cited as the official birth of Sykurmolarnir, which would finally be translated into its equivalent in English: The Sugarcubes [The Sugar Cubes]. At that time, Einar Örn and Þór Eldon were running a new organization called Smekkleysa or officially known as Bad Taste, a countercultural record label that encouraged the artistic work of young Icelanders. The Sugarcubes' style of music had a more commercial focus than previous bands, because according to Einar money was needed to cover expenses. Bad Taste spawned the formation of the Sugarcubes with Björk, Siggi Baldursson, KUKL's Einar Örn and Einar Melax, with Þór Eldon, Bragi Ólafsson and Friðrik Erlingsson; Einar Melax would later be replaced by Margrét Örnólfsdóttir on keyboards.

The Sugarcubes' first single Amæli —Birthday, in its English version— became a huge hit in England. In this way they gained significant popularity in the United Kingdom and the United States and offers from record companies began to arrive. The band then signed to One Little Indian and recorded their first album, Life's Too Good in 1988, an album that brought them worldwide fame—the first Icelandic band to achieve such success. —. After the debut album, Melax leaves the group and devotes himself to other projects. Also in 1988 he published his last work: Óskiljanleg Kúla , which came out through Smekkleysa (Bad Taste).

In 1989, Melax earned a degree in music education from the Reykjavik Conservatory of Music. Also from 1989 to 1991 he served as director of the music school in Flateyri and during the period 1991-1994 he was director of the music school in Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Additionally, he composed the soundtrack for the film Dagsverk , a documentary about the poet and painter Dagur Sigurðarson, produced and directed by Kári Schram. In 1993 he composed the music for a television program about the Icelandic poet Jón úr Vör.

In 1993 he joined the poet Þorri Jóh forming the group Exem and they released an album titled Kjöttromman in 1995.

From 1994 to 1995 he studied at the Reykjavik Conservatory of Music where he immersed himself in composition with Karólína Eiríksdóttir, the study of music theory with Guðmundur Hafsteinsson, and computer music with Thorsteinn Hauksson.

In 1996 he composed the soundtrack for the film Draumadísir [Dream Hunters], directed by Ásdís Thoroddsen, and starring Silja Hauksdóttir, Ragnheiður Axel, Baltasar Kormákur and Bergþora Aradottir. The musical interpretation was carried out by the Caput chamber music group.

From 1997 to 1998 he was director of the music school in Lundur Öxarfjörður and since then he has dedicated himself to working from an opera to a libretto by Dagur Sigurðarson, the collection of natural and environmental sounds with a DAT recorder for use and processing in a digital environment.

Currently he is dedicated to the composition of electronic music and the construction of classical instruments and other musical instruments for sound processing.

Discography

Fan Houtens Kókó (1981-1982)

• 1981 - Musique Elementaire (Mudusa)
• 1982 - Mister K (Mudusa)

Bibliography

• 1983 - Lubbi Litabók (Mudusa)
• 1984 - Lautinant Tomas Trélitabók (Mudusa)
• 1985 - Sexblaðasóley (Misþyrmt af Kú) (Mudusa)
• 1988 - Óskiljanleg Kúla (Smekleysa)

KUKL discography (1983-1986)

Simple

• 1983 - Söngull (Gramm)

Albums

• 1984 - The Eye (Crass Records)
• 1984 - KUKL to Paris 14.9.84 (V.I.S.A.)
• 1986 - Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Naught) (Crass Records)

Appearances and collaborations

• 1987 - Geyser - Anthology of the Icelandic Independent Music Scene of the Eighties (Enigma Records)
• 2002 - Family Tree (One Little Indian), Björk CD box.

Rokka Rokka Drum (1984)

• Single recording: a demo - format MC (case) - unknown content apparently lost in 1986.

The Elgar Sisters (1983-1986)

• There are no official releases - Recording 11 songs, but only three were released during the solo race of Björk. Einar Melax's work was only recorded in the unpublished songs.

Discography with The Sugarcubes

Albums

• 1988 - Life's Too Good (Elektra Records)

Singles

• 1986 - Einn Mol'á Mann (Smekkleysa), under the name Sykurmolarnir.

From Life's Too Good

• 1987 - Birthday (Elektra Records)
• 1988 - Coldsweat (Elektra Records)
• 1988 - Deus (Elektra Records)
• 1988 - Motorcrash (Elektra Records)

Collaborations

• 1987 - Snarl 2 (Erðanumúsik), compiled Icelandic. Participation under the name Sykurmolarnir.
• 1987 - Luftgítar (Smekleysa), Johny Triumph's album.
• 1987 - Skytturnar (Gramm), soundtrack: see Skytturnar (film).
• 1988 - One Little Indian - Greatest Hits Volume One (One Little Indian), great hits from the One Little Indian record label, volume 1.

Other releases

• 1988 - Sugarcubes Interview Disc (Baktabak)

Collaborations and soundtracks

• 1992 - Dagsverk (The Icelandic Film Fund)
• 1996 - Draumadísir (Gjola Film)
• 2005 - Dense Time (Pronil Holdings), album by Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson.

EXEM discography

• 1995 - Kjöttromman (Bad Taste)

Appearances:

• 1994 - Smekleysa í Hálfa Öld (Smekkleysa), compiled from Smekleysa/Bad Taste.

Inferno 5 Discography

Album

• 1996 - Angeli Daemoniaque Omnigena Imbecilli Sunt (???)

Appearances

• 1993 - Núll & Nix (???)
• ? MELT - Scandinavian electro/industrial compilation (Cyberware Productions), compiled.

Compositions

• 1983 - “Sketches for Piano” - tribute to several composers: Bartok, Erik Satie, Messiaen and others.
• 1985 - “String Travels” - string quartet.
• 1987 - “Grandmother” - quintet for two violins, viola and two French tubes.
• 1990 - “Introitus” - quartet for armon, tube, two church bells and a church organ.
• 1994 - “On the 128th birthday of Eric Satie” - duo for violin and fagot.
• Tribute to spring and Franz Liszt” - trio for clarinet, chello and piano.

• 1996 - “Poem” - threesome for soprano, oboe and piano.

Related bibliography

• Alternative Rock: Third Ear - The Essential Listening CompanionDave Thimpson. Backbeat Books (2000).
• Lobster or FameDave Thimpson. Bad Taste (2000).