Bloodgroup

"...[Bloodgroup] have a funky groove about them and also the unselfishness that you have to admire. I saw them perform last Icelandic Airwaves (they happened to go on after a very good dj) and I was totally unprepared for the effect they had on me and I ended up staying for the whole gig.

They also seem to radiate this charm that you have to experience for yourself because you can dance to their tunes as well as just chilling, they are good for whatever mood you are in."
- Margret - GETRVK.COM - GETRVK.COM Online mag

"Und es gibt einige Musiker in Island, die auch international in Erscheinung treten wollen. Island wird auch deshalb auf der Berliner Musikmesse PopKomm im Herbst erstmals mit einem Stand vertreten sein. Neue Musiker wie der Songwriter Petur Ben, Elektro-Popper wie Bloodgroup oder Belfast FM und superharte Rock-Acts wie Dr. Spock und Reykjavik! können auch in europäischen Clubs und Hallen beweisen, dass Island nicht nur seine bekannten Stars Björk und Sigur Ros zu bieten hat" - Heute-Online

Much Music:

Having had a flood of press releases hit my inbox about the Icelandic electro-house quartet, Bloodgroup for the past two weeks, I decided to give them a chance to hit me with their best shot (musically speaking, we’ve had enough verbal/physical assaults last Sunday with Will.i.am dropping a different kind of beat on Perez allegedly) (editor’s note: if you believe Perez).
Thanks to my two-night stand experience with Guelph synthers, Green Go, I was preparing myself for an onslaught of synthy goodness and Bloodgroup did not disappoint. At times thrusting Kate M. into a euphoric freedom dance, the crowd went crazy creeping closer and closer to the former-Air Sex Championships stage as the magnetic frontman, Janus, exchanged endearing glances with the his equally enthralling and undeniably alluring frontwoman, while performing “Ain’t Easy.”

For bringing us good tunes and the keytar, Canada salutes you Iceland.
Final Score for NXNE on Thursday, June 18.
Canada: 1
America: 0
The Rest of the World Iceland: 1
While NXNE does whet our inner-indie appetites, let’s not let our inner patriot forget that like the Southern counterpart, NXNE is a Mecca for all bands to flock to, Canadian or Non-Canadian. We’re a cosmopolitan of diverse music, art and culture, why not bask in it?
So to answer your question Mr. NXNE-should-be-all-CanCon to why there was a band from Iceland playing that night? Well, I guess you’ll never know…at least until they come back.
## http://blog.muchmusic.com/nxne-to-cancon-or-to-not-cancon/ - muchmusic.com

From Iceland, Bloodgroup have been making serious waves since their appearance at Airwaves last year. So serious that we couldn't actually get into the venue a good half hour before they were due to play. But a quick go on their myspace reveals some throbbing she-robo-disco, and a debut album 'Sticky Situation' that sounds well worth checking out.

-NME on Eurosonic Festival 2008 - NME

"Und es gibt einige Musiker in Island, die auch international in Erscheinung treten wollen. Island wird auch deshalb auf der Berliner Musikmesse PopKomm im Herbst erstmals mit einem Stand vertreten sein. Neue Musiker wie der Songwriter Petur Ben, Elektro-Popper wie Bloodgroup oder Belfast FM und superharte Rock-Acts wie Dr. Spock und Reykjavik! können auch in europäischen Clubs und Hallen beweisen, dass Island nicht nur seine bekannten Stars Björk und Sigur Ros zu bieten hat" - Heute-Online

"The best new Icelandic band I saw at Airwaves was Bloodgroup. Great songwriting, cool sound, a great frontwoman and a particularly joyful and lively performance on stage."
-Trausti Juliusson - Frettabladid (Icelands biggest newspaper)

"Bloodgroup also stacked their claim for Reykjavik´s party crown with their own brand of dance pop that showcased a three-keyboard attack and th Icelandic Karen O, who resembled the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman from her sexy vocals to her bobbed hair and spandex tights. Only once did Bloodgroup´s dance party let up so that they could 'slow it down for some sex.'"
-Joel Hoard - Reykjavik Grapevine (official airwaves newspaper)

Bloodgroup
London, 229

"Don't be fooled by the Hammer horror handle - Bloodgroup may be bludgeoning long on unsubtlety, but they're bracingly short in gothic gloom. Co-fronter Janus'Euro-hop geek-chic may be an aquired taste, but partner Lilja is unquestionably starry, sneaking Bjorky flicky bits into her come-hither trill and announcing amazedly that the album's "quite good, actually!", and from the MSTRKRFTy thunderstorm of opening 'Moving Like a Tiger' through the vixenishly PJ Harveyeque 'Hips Again' to the windmilling-on-tables disco-treadmill trouble of 'Chuck', they're a thrilling brew akin to an overwrought Underworld; more gigs in this vain ant they'll practically be Iceland's most unmissable..."

Iain Moffat - The Fly
February, 2008 - The Fly (UK)

Bloodgroup
London, 229

"Don't be fooled by the Hammer horror handle - Bloodgroup may be bludgeoning long on unsubtlety, but they're bracingly short in gothic gloom. Co-fronter Janus'Euro-hop geek-chic may be an aquired taste, but partner Lilja is unquestionably starry, sneaking Bjorky flicky bits into her come-hither trill and announcing amazedly that the album's "quite good, actually!", and from the MSTRKRFTy thunderstorm of opening 'Moving Like a Tiger' through the vixenishly PJ Harveyeque 'Hips Again' to the windmilling-on-tables disco-treadmill trouble of 'Chuck', they're a thrilling brew akin to an overwrought Underworld; more gigs in this vain ant they'll practically be Iceland's most unmissable..."

Iain Moffat - The Fly
February, 2008 - The Fly (UK)

By:Larm Festival, Oslo, Norway

"The highlight of the final night was Icelandic electro-pop act, Bloodgroup, who unleashed a whirlwind of sleazy electro disco. At times they sounded contrived, with lyrics including 'You've got to move your ass / To realise that it's the best!', but the boy/girl vocal interplay, wash of electronic melody and filthy basslines won over the crowd, which was in raptures of ecstasy by the time the final chord rang out."

Rob Dabrowski
The Notion / Hot Ticks
May 2008 - Notion (UK)

By:Larm Festival, Oslo, Norway

"The highlight of the final night was Icelandic electro-pop act, Bloodgroup, who unleashed a whirlwind of sleazy electro disco. At times they sounded contrived, with lyrics including 'You've got to move your ass / To realise that it's the best!', but the boy/girl vocal interplay, wash of electronic melody and filthy basslines won over the crowd, which was in raptures of ecstasy by the time the final chord rang out."

Rob Dabrowski
The Notion / Hot Ticks
May 2008 - Notion (UK)

Bloodgroup sound like they should be a heavy metal outfit, but here's the news: they most certainly are not. Rather, this Icelandic quartet deal in glitchy new-rave pop, the kind that should, in theory, ensure they're snapped up to some cash-happy major looking for the next Klaxons by the time you read this. Their sweaty set in NASA reminds us of Hadouken! fronted by a younger, geekier Madonna - in other words, they ain't that original but all their songs are a) about sex and b) riddled with filthy electro beats. They prove to be DiS's guilty pleasure of the festival.


by Shain Shapiro and Rob Webb
http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/2525749 - Drowned in Sound

Bloodgroup sound like they should be a heavy metal outfit, but here's the news: they most certainly are not. Rather, this Icelandic quartet deal in glitchy new-rave pop, the kind that should, in theory, ensure they're snapped up to some cash-happy major looking for the next Klaxons by the time you read this. Their sweaty set in NASA reminds us of Hadouken! fronted by a younger, geekier Madonna - in other words, they ain't that original but all their songs are a) about sex and b) riddled with filthy electro beats. They prove to be DiS's guilty pleasure of the festival.


by Shain Shapiro and Rob Webb
http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/2525749 - Drowned in Sound

Best Icelandic Party; sponsored by Raz's Liver:
Saturday night's always the night to party and nobody knows how to party like the islanders do. A totally unofficial gig at a Thai karaoke bar (they needed to build the stage), next to Reykjavik's strip club (yes, the strippers joined us) is always going to be interesting. With the kings of Faroese indie, Boys In A Band as well as hard-touring natives Skatar and Bloodgroup on the bill, this was a showcase of the finest the country has to offer.

by Sean Adams
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4135498 - Drowned in Sound

Best Icelandic Party; sponsored by Raz's Liver:
Saturday night's always the night to party and nobody knows how to party like the islanders do. A totally unofficial gig at a Thai karaoke bar (they needed to build the stage), next to Reykjavik's strip club (yes, the strippers joined us) is always going to be interesting. With the kings of Faroese indie, Boys In A Band as well as hard-touring natives Skatar and Bloodgroup on the bill, this was a showcase of the finest the country has to offer.

by Sean Adams
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4135498 - Drowned in Sound