AGGRASOPPAR drops new record ‘MIDNÁTTARSANG’

Hailing from the Faroe Islands, AGGRASOPPAR is a pioneering outfit in the avant-garde music scene, bringing their alternative rap sound infused with punk energy to the stage and studio releases. Featuring Dania O. Tausen, Eyðfinn Bogason Lamhauge and Trygvi Danielsen, this band makes cutting edge music that’s as rugged and varied as the landscapes they hail from.

Renowned for their visceral live performances, AGGRASOPPAR has played stages at events like Icelandic Airwaves, Reeperbahn Festival, SPOT Festival in Aarhus, Denmark and the UK’s The Great Escape festival, winning over audiences with their anarchic creativity. Their debut album, æðrasoppar, released on Christmas Eve in 2020, provided a glimpse into their unique sonic exploration, setting up subsequent releases that further showcased their constantly shifting sound.

Recently they’ve been on a relentless performance spree including shows at Eurosonic in the Netherlands and Trondheim Calling in Norway and also dropped three singles in the build up to their latest release, their brand new eight-track record titled MIDNÁTTARSANG, (translating to ‘midnight song’ in English) released via the Tutl Records imprint.

Taking a striking snapshot of the latest chapter of their mind-bending musical vision, the new release serves as the second half of the double concept album, first unveiled with their last EP, døgurðaslang. Having presented a more gentle aesthetic of calmer songwriting themed on an optimistic glance at the goodness that exists in everyone on the first eight tracks last summer, the second outing in the series sees the band explore the respective dark shadows. Commenting on the new EP, the band shares, “MIDNÁTTARSANG is the black sheep in AGGRASOPPAR’s double EP family. It’s wilder, muddier, angrier. It’s AGGRASOPPAR when they’re having fun. Come and join the party.”

Kicked off by the laid back groove of “75 KM/T,” vocal leads bounce over the smooth beat as airy sonic textures dance around the mix to form an upbeat trip-hop-tinged vibe. Flowing into a bright chorus of catchy split vocals, the band injects a subtle pop twist before wild guitar leads flutter over the head bobbing rhythm to close the piece.

A flurry of pattering percussive shots bring in second track “PEANUTBUTTER & BANAN” before the soft vocals lines, backed by belted shouts ride above the rising energy of the arrangement. The lively thump of the kick hints at the explosive incoming switch up as a cacophony of driving tones delivers a gripping moment of raw sonic intensity before dreamy tones underpin the spoken word finale.

“OMMACHEPANNEKÆK” brings eerie instrumental tones and haunting whispered vocalisations, creating a dark and atmospheric sonic landscape. The band lays down slick rapped flows with distant echoes of contrasting vocal elements, accompanied by an arrangement of lo-fi synth tones and brass elements.

Another highlight is “KONSEPTUALISERA SAMANHALD HVØRSÍNAMILLUM” which further demonstrates the band’s innovative style with snapping beats and ethereal bird samples, creating a grainy atmosphere that draws listeners into its hypnotic soundscape. As the vocals thread their punk rap sound over stuttered instrumental shots and shifting percussive elements, the song evolves into a hazy soundscape of intensity and intrigue.

The EP closes with “EINASTA VAKTIN” as whimsical tones gently flow to form playful melodic lines wrapped in a misty sonic aesthetic to blur the lines between delightful musical familiarity and subtly haunting, carnival-esque sounds, offering the perfect conclusion to float the listener down after the wild ride presented throughout MIDNÁTTARSANG. It’s an extraordinarily original new work from an endlessly creative and talented outfit who continue to go from strength to strength. Recently confirmed to perform at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, UK in May, Fusion Fest and Skandaløs in Germany, AGGRASOPPAR are set to give more fans a chance to see them bring their groundbreaking sound alive on stage.

Listen to MIDNÁTTARSANG below