DVD Review: Screaming Masterpiece

Regular readers of this site already realize that I have a strange fascination with all music stemming from Iceland. I've been a fan of Amiina, Sigur Ros, Bjork and Mum for as long as I can remember and have everything they've ever put to record displayed flamboyantly all over my iTunes library. When Screaming Masterpiece, a DVD highlighting the current state of the Icelandic music scene, arrived in my mailbox earlier this week, I was elated.

After watching the documentary, it became impossibly clear to me that one of the strongholds of the Icelandic music scene, that sets it apart from all others, is its strong sense of camaraderie. Whether it's the country's burgeoning punk, hip-hop or electronic circles, all bands love, respect and admire each other's work. As mutliple artists explain throughout the film, they are truly out to create music that they enjoy playing, because they don't anticipate a major record deal or mainstream radio attention. With a total population just over 300,000, it's rather mindblowing to think that so much powerful, unique and heartfelt music is coming out of such a (relatively) small country.

While the DVD does a fine job circumnavigating the entire scene, there is undoubtedly a focus on Iceland's most successful musician to date. Of course, I'm referring to Bjork. In addition to an in-depth interview with the star, there are two live videos from her visit to Brooklyn's Keyspan Park in 2003 highlighted on Screaming Masterpiece. 'Pluto' and 'All Is Full Of Love' are included in their full glory on the documentary, as is a stellar performance of 'Untitled #8' from Sigur Ros, dating back to that same glorious evening (I was there and can vouch that there was magic in that air that night).

In summary, the film is a must-have for both the musicologists and curious music aficionados amongst you. Even as someone, like myself, who dares to claim that he or she has a vast knowledge of Icelandic music, will honestly learn a great deal more about the scene after watching Screaming Masterpiece. Further details on the film, alongside purchase info, can be found HERE!

The full list of artists featured on Screaming Masterpiece is as follows: Múm, Slowblow, Apparat Organ Quartet, Eivör Pálsdóttir, Björk, Mugison, Odin's Raven Magic, The Sugarcubes, Ghostigital, Quarashi, Amiina, Sigur Rós, Singapore Sling, Vinyl, Mínus & Nilfisk.

Would you like to attend Iceland Airwaves 2007, all expenses paid? Of course you do! Enter the contest to win a pair of tickets plus hotel stay and airfare via this link as arranged by Milan Records. Good luck!

MP3s: Bjork - Pneumonia + Sigur Ros - Untitled #8 + Amiina - Blafelder + Reykjavik! - All Those Beautiful Boys + Mugison - 2 Birds