Crave is bringing you an interesting one this morning with the exclusive premiere of The Family Crest performing “Alone” live in New York City, a cover from an Icelandic concept album entitled Revolution in the Elbow of Ragnar Agnarsson Furniture Painter. We’re also proud to present an exclusive stream of the original song, by composer Ivar Páll Jónsson.
Liam McCormick, the frontman of The Family Crest, is the featured artist in “Alone,” was discovered by Jónsson on NPR’s tremendously good show All Songs Considered. Ivar was falling asleep to the podcast when he heard The Family Crest; he was so moved by Liam’s voice that he reached out to Liam the next day and asked him to sing on the track.
Home to some of the world’s greatest musical luminaries, including Bjork, Sigur Ros, and Of Monsters and Men, Iceland’s explosive cultural scene now boasts Jónsson in its ranks of eclectic musical spirits. His latest work, an ambitious concept album entitled Revolution in the Elbow of Ragnar Agnarsson Furniture Painter (out 7/15/14), is already being heralded as “the expression of everything that is unique and awesome about Iceland” (Music Box Pete).
Featuring Jónsson’s Revolutionary Cellular Orchestra and an all-star lineup of the country’s top singers (among them, Stefan Orn Gunnlaugsson of IKORNI and Hjalti Þorkelsson of Múgsefjun), the album’s combination of Icelandic and American influences comes full circle with a guest appearance by renowned California songster Liam Mccormick (The Family Crest).
Check out a video of The Family Crest’s cover of “Alone” below, as well as a Soundcloud stream of the original track. A full music video for the song will arrive in the near future.
A homage to the absurdity and grandeur of classic rock at its most epic (think The Who’s Tommy or Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust), Revolution in the Elbow of Ragnar Agnarsson weaves a tale of love, war, and brotherhood that all takes place within the microcosm of an oblivious man’s elbow. With an “alternation between elegiac grace, alternative pop current, and Bacharach hints” (The Big Takeover), the album, like Iceland itself, is the perfect metaphor for big things happening in small places.
Listen to the original “Alone” below:
The music on the album is performed by The Revolutionary Cellular Orchestra, and features an array of guest vocalists including Liam McCormick (The Family Crest), Soffía Björg, Hjalti Þorkelsson (Múgsefjun), Sigríður Thorlacius (Hjaltalín), Valdimar Guðmundsson (Valdimar)and more. The record weaves an emotive storyline with the energy of a soaring rock ensemble. From dark textural moments to full out rock anthems, the musical influences run deep, from the classics to the contemporaries including David Bowie, Sufjan and Wilco to Grizzly Bear, Of Montreal, Radiohead, Queen and more.
Learn more at http://www.ivarpalljonsson.com/#sectionHome
