KUKL

KUKL was an Icelandic experimental gothic rock band with a mix of jazz, rhythmic music and punk. In medieval Icelandic, KUKL means "Sorcerer".

History

The band was formed in August 1983 when Ásmundur Jónsson from the Gramm record company (Iceland's most important label) wanted to form a band with all the most avant-garde artists of the moment. The members were Björk Guðmundsdóttir, who until then was in another band called Tappi Tíkarrass; Einar Örn Benediktsson, singer and trumpeter for Purrkur Pillnikk; Siggtryggur Baldursson, drummer, and Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson on guitar, both members of Þeyr; Birgir Mogensen, bassist of Með Noktum and finally the keyboardist of Medúsa, Einar Arnaldur Melax. For this reason, KUKL is considered as a fusion between Purrkur Pillnikk, Þeyr and Tappi Tíkarrass.

First release: Söngull

KUKL first appeared in concert at the We Demand a Future concert, in Reykjavik on September 20, 1983, but they reunited in December of the same year for the release of their first album. single: Söngull with the B-side song "Pökn (fyrir byrjendur)". on this release "Söngull" is the version of the song "Dismembered" which was released later in 1984. The difference of this one is that the first one has an introduction with guitars instead of bells, lyrics in Icelandic and a faster rhythm.

The Eye

Einar Örn, leader of the group, had studied communication sciences at Polytechnic of Central London, where he had the opportunity to come into contact with various punk groups such as Flux of Pink Indians and Crass (the promoters of anarchopunk). KUKL's first album, The Eye, was released through Crass' label, Crass Records.

The title The Eye alludes to Björk's favorite book at the time: Story of the Eye (Histoire de l'oeil, "History of the Eye"), written by Georges Bataille (1928), whose plot involves the sexual perversions of a young French couple in a context of violence.

This album, whose cover was illustrated by the artist Dada Nana, contained the English version of “Söngull” titled “Dismembered” and a song called “Anna” for which a video clip was made that was directed by Óskar Jónasson.
KUKL's music was very different on Crass Records: it was a complex mix of gothic rock, punk, jazz and rhythm music in the style of Killing Joke and avant-garde references to The Fall's after-punk, with a songwriting orientation to Igor Stravinsky or Aleksandr Skriabin. Gulli Óttarsson's guitar style, with elaborate notes, build together with Birgir Mogensen's bass line, a solid, vibrant and often discordant base that, with the addition of Björk, Einar Örn and keyboardist Melax, give rise to songs with a rather dark air, with threatening and encrypted letters.

In the recording of The Eye, the band used different types of drums, trumpets and even bells. Many critics categorize them with references to Siouxsie and the Banshees, Killing Joke, Einstürzende Neubauten, and the early days of The Cure.

KUKL never achieved worldwide fame, even though that was what was believed if they changed labels. Band members had to work ordinary jobs when not playing music, for example, singer Björk worked in a fish processor and also made appearances as background vocalist for the Icelandic “grandfather of rock” band Megas. Gulli Óttarsson, currently a mathematician and inventor, was doing scientific research work.

In 1985 KUKL toured Europe. They visited the Netherlands during the Pandora's Box Festival and were in Denmark during the Roskilde Festival, along with other bands who were also touring hoping to achieve success outside of their own land.

'“Through the ugliness of humanity, we try to shine. Against the stupidity of humanity, we try to fight. As a reward we receive the madness of others. Our food, the atrocities of the world. Our food, the joy of the world.”'
(Manifesto from p. 6 of the booklet of the album The Eye).

KUKL á Paris 14.9.84 and Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought)

In the same year they also visited France and released KUKL á Paris 14.9.84 under the French label V.I.S.A. (release limited to France only. In 1986, with production by Penny Lapsang Rimbaud, the band released their album, Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought), becoming the only band to release more than one record with Crass Records (except for the Crass themselves.) The press release issued by Crass Records expounded on one of KUKL's manifestos:

”The Naughty Nought” [The Naughty Zero] represents the individual's insignificance being nothing more than a numb number in a game of binary pair computers loss/good win/black/bad. You are taken from the quintessence to the four elements, from the Holy Trinity to dualism and then from the mutism to the naughty zero. In this process the music breaks the scales by means of rumble trumpets and the spill of bottles of anger together with a subtle musical poetry. The naughty zero is the source of all the creative energy and is manifested through cyclonic movements snatched from the remnants of matter itself to spiral galaxies. By contemplating the kinetic aspects of this destruction you gain the old power as a teacher and creator without mutilating your fellow beings. ”

(Statement in the press release issued by Crass Records in order to inform the release of the album Holidays in Erupe (The Naughty Nought), January 24, 1986).

The style of Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought), has been considered as post-punk or a type of alternative indie rock. Two video clips were made: one for the opening song “The Outward Fight” and one for the second song, “France (A Mutual Thrill)”.

The end of the band was drawing near as they explored all musical alternatives. KUKL had an impact in Iceland when in 1986 Ríkisútvarpíð (Icelandic National Television) made a special about the band where Björk appeared singing pregnant with her stomach exposed and her eyebrows shaved. For this reason, many viewers called the channel complaining about the singer.

The separation of KUKL

The band broke up the same year that Björk married Þór Eldon (Medúsa guitarist) and the two had a son, Sindri Eldon Jónsson, on July 8, 1986, the date officially known as the birth of Björk's next band: The Sugarcubes, in which Einar Örn, Einar Melax and Siggi Baldursson also followed. Gulli Óttarsson and Birgir Mogensen were the only ones who decided not to continue. At the same time that KUKL existed, Gulli Óttarsson was working with Björk, in a duet project with the company of the group's musicians without the participation of Einar Örn, under the name The Elgar Sisters and they stayed for a while longer after the KUKL separation.

KUKL ideology

KUKL's driving idea was to cause a change in society through music, using it as a means of transmission. For this, the group did not sell itself to commercialism and only appeared on special occasions to maintain its quality of inspiration. Its members maintained the position that the power is in us and in what we do. By listening to the group, people would become part of the transmission of that particular power, even without meaning to.
Without wanting to give an exact definition of their philosophy to avoid stagnation, the members of KUKL considered that there is much more to life than what is predetermined. They wanted to illuminate other people's minds by avoiding restrictions and said that today's music served as a tool for people to fall asleep while those on a higher level watched as we were on our way to perdition.

They pointed out that we should not settle for our own lifestyle, our art or attitudes. By taking this rule into account in music, KUKL introduced an incongruity into the psyche of his audience and since they were not using it for their own benefit, individuals would have space to fill it for themselves. A non-conformist attitude will bring a new breed of others. The option is to be yourself.

Concerts

1983:

• 20 September - We Demand to Futurenext to Crass.

1984:

• The MH Sattelite Gig, next to Psychic TV.
• The Continental Europe Tour.
• 21 December - Krists-Mas-KonsertIn Austurbæjarbío.

1985:

• Pandora's BoxIn Rotterdam.
• Roskilde Festival.

1986:

• The Berlin Connection.
• 14 September - KUKL Consert in Paris.

Criticism of music publications

“A new interpretation of rock music, unlike anything you've ever heard before.”
(DV, September 17, 1983).

“For the first time I am speechless. This concert cannot be described. Those who lived through it will have it for the rest of their lives.”
(DV, November 26, 1983).

“SHOCK: an Icelandic band whose name no one knows, except that it has to be shouted, thrown into life and who made perhaps the most enjoyable sound of the whole night. Seemingly featuring two lead vocalists (impossible to see due to rhythmically swaying musicians), this curious group generated an intensity born of falling chaos where everything got wonderfully hysterical, but meanwhile, the foundations remained in check, easily enjoyed.”
(Sounds, January 1984).

“We had expected some combination of Þeyr and Purrkur Pillnikk, but we were served with an all round surprise. The music maintains the manic quality of P.P. and the sophistication of Þeyr, but it moves much further. At first I thought I couldn't stomach the rhythmic frenzy and crazy tonal combination but my stomach and eventually my whole body started to keep up. And who am I to disagree?" (S&T, April 18, 1984).

“His musical creation literally explodes in the faces or masks of the audience, it propels into their consciousness and even if by chance you are not interested, there is no way to avoid or deny taking it into consideration...”
(DV, April 28, 1984).

Concert Reviews

Extracted from a collection of newspaper articles distributed in connection with his concert in Austurbæjarbíó, Reykjavík, on December 21, 1984.

“FLUX OF PINK INDIANS/D & V/KUKL/CHUMBAWUMBA. Conway Hall. Legends are made of stuff like that - REALLY. A concert that put the last nail in the coffin of plastic post punk garbage, with the participation of four of the five best anarcho-punk bands in the world (sorry for the record company!). It's too bad Crass wasn't there to complete the potency... KUKL are an Icelandic band, which immediately falls into a rather select family: even if there were other Icelandic bands to compare to (the journalist's well-known past), it would be impossible. With benevolent and humorous changes, they have a peculiarly charismatic leader; if you don't get to see them before the end of their European tour, buy their indispensable LP The Eye at Crass Records and be sorry you missed out. Fascinating!”
(Sounds, September 3, 1984).

“Things lit up with the best of Icelandic (albeit unopposed) KUKL delivering a heady little punk ensemble of Bow Wow Wow sounds, the sounds coming from the most honest guy ever and the girl with the weird haircut from Skafish. The guitar was deep and the drums were supple, and I could have listened to them for at least another 12 years if duty hadn't called.”
(New Musical Express, October 6, 1984).

“PANDORA’S BOX FESTIVAL Rotterdam. With a kindness in grace, big balls of fire - it's KUKL! The boy and the girl charging, screaming and crying, while the remaining four prepare to go on one hell of a ruckus, falling into occasional fits of melody. I'm not sure it was their intention, but I found them highly entertaining, and should be watched just to witness the extraordinary performance of the maniacal little girl.”
(Sounds, October 13, 1984).

TV performances

• 1985 - KUKL & TA., in Rikisútvarpíð, Iceland National Division.
• 1986 - KUKL Special, in Rikisútvarpíð (National Division of Iceland).

MP3 samples for The Eye album

• “Dismembered” (breakable link available on the Internet Archive; see history, first version and last).
• “Seagull” (breakable link available on the Internet Archive; see history, first version and last).

MP3 samples for the album Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought)

• “Psalm 323” (breakable link available on the Internet Archive; see history, first version and last).
• “A Mutual Thrill” (breakable link available on the Internet Archive; see history, first version and last).

Discography

Single:

• 1983 - Söngull (Gramm Records)

Albums:

• 1984 - The Eye (Crass Records)
• 1984 - KUKL to Paris 18.9.84 (V.I.S.A.)
• 1986 - Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought) (Crass Records)

Appearances and collaborations:

• 1987 - Geyser - Anthology of the Icelandic Independent Music Scene of the Eighties (Enigma Records), compiled.

Related bibliography

• Rokksaga ÍslandsGestur Guðmundsson. Forlagið (1990).
• Björk, Rock Images Collection, No.82, by Jordi Bianciotto. Editorial La Mascara (1997).
• Alternative Rock: Third Ear - The Essential Listening CompanionDave Thimpson. Backbeat Books (2000).
• Lobster or FameDave Thimpson. Bad Taste (2000).