LΓΊlla – Icelandic for sleeping – is London based producer, Vern from Nude Disco, and Icelandic singer/songwriter, Heidrun Bjornsdottir.
Their debut mini album, Winter In The City, was released earlier this year, comprising of five new compositions and a cover version of βOnly Youβ, originally a hit for Savage in 1984. Their shared love of retro European pop shines through the music, forged in Vernβs London Studio where they have a bank of vintage analogue and digital Synths at their disposal. The video for opening track, βMemoriesβ, was shot on location in the Keilir region, near Bjornsdottir’s native Reykavik, and features her son Ralph.
“Our top 10 features our favourite Synth heavy tracks that have served to infuse, inspire and educate,” said the duo. Check it out.
1. Sally Shapiro β βHe Keeps Me Aliveβ
βThis cover version of Nixonβs βShe Keeps Me Aliveβ is exquisitely recreated by the recently defunked Swedish Italo pop outfit Sally Shapiro. A beautiful homage to what was already a gloriously melancholic love song.β
2. Johan Agebjorn β βSwimming Through The Blue Lagoonβ
βOne of our favourite producers, Jarre-esque beats with some gated trance-y vocals and beats from a Casio MT32. What more do you want?β
3. Bogdan IrkΓΌk β βI Was Onβ
βThe peerless Bogdan IrkΓΌk released this timeless blissed out disco gem as part of the Rollerboys Epic Disco Vol 2 EP. Still havenβt got close to appreciating how good this record is.β
4. Depeche Mode β βGet The Balance Rightβ
βIn this Depeche Mode classic, you can hear Martin Gore was starting to experiment a little more with digital synths, keeping their sound ahead of the game. Still a goose bumper.β
5. Laurie Anderson β βO Supermanβ
βThis pioneering masterpiece was originally released on 7β Vinyl which ran at 33rpm. Adding to the already magical combination of sampled vocals and vocoders.β
6. College β βThe Droneβ
βRepetitive, relentless and emotive this College production never fails to deliver. Part of the Valerie Collective College got exposure when βA Real Heroβ was featured on the Drive Soundtrack.β
7. The Human League β βEmpire State Humanβ
βBefore the departure of Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh (to form Heaven 17) the Human League were a little more rough and ready. βEmpire State Humanβ is a high tempo but totally on point example.β
8. Al Usher β βLullaby For Robert (Bogdan IrkΓΌk Mix)β
βWeighing in at 8.42 this takes a bit of commitment to listen to but rewards you throughout. Remixed by the mysterious Bogdan IrkΓΌk whoβs sporadic output always makes for essential listening.β
9. Soft Cell β βMemorabiliaβ
βDavid Ball knew his way round a synthesizer thatβs for sure. As relevant today as it ever was.β
10. OMD β βTelegraphβ
βWe purchased a Yamaha CS01for the studio after seeing an β80s Top Of The Pops performance by OMD using one for the lead riff in βTelegraphβ. At a chance meeting with Andy McCluskey (lead singer) he told me theyβd never used any Yamaha Kit. But they did. Two of them in this video to be precise.β
LΓΊlla’s Winter In The City is out now via Nude Disco Records. Get it on iTunes or Beatport.
You can listen to all Ask the DJ playlists on the FMS Magazine Spotify channel. Find LΓΊlla’s playlist HERE.