KEXP at Iceland Airwaves 2014, Day 1: Oyama

We just can't get enough of shoegazey band Oyama, who we featured this morning for our Song of the Day podcast. Later this month, the young Icelandic group is about to release their full-length debut, recorded with friend of KEXP Pétur Ben at Sigur Rós' Sundlaugin studio. And also today, they shared their new songs during KEXP's broadcast at KEX Hostel during Iceland Airwaves.

Their set tonight absolutely did not disappoint. Sure, this five piece (actually, up to seven at this show) draws easy comparisons to My Bloody Valentine, but these guys certainly have a sound all their own. Early in the day, the band members dropped off their instruments so they could head to school and work. Co-lead singer and guitar player Úlfur Alexander Einarsson mentioned they had been hard at work practicing their set, and it certainly showed. Their tight show had a great dynamic tension between mellower moments and absolute noise rock abandon. Sure, this was a shorter off venue happening, but they did not hold back at all.All the tunes were off the newly completed debut album, Coolboy, and producer Pétur Ben joined the band on keys, guitar, and additional percussion. The first song, "Old Snow", kicked off with a spacey guitar opening and Júlía Hermannsdóttir's beautiful singing. But as with many of their tunes, it built into a heavier, crunchier sound with drums kicking in energy. This built to a crescendo before crashing to an abrupt end, to the cheers of the crowd. The second song, "Siblings", had a driving, sludgy energy from the get go, but then softened to make space for lovely vocal harmonies. This tune even has some almost garage rock moments. But as with most Oyama compositions, it has many distinct parts. Their songs go places. Song three, "The Cat Has Thirst", followed suit with beautiful softer moments and overdriven, noisy joy.

For the fourth number, "Lungbreathers", saxophonist Tumi Árnason (The Heavy Experience, Grísalappalísa) joined in. It started off with a sort of jazzy, cymbal heavy drum line. A bit spacey, but with also a darker edge. When the beat picked up it had tastes of some almost trip hop elements. Oyama are not a band easily put into a neat genre box. Swirling guitars joined the mix, then it receded back to a quieter moment, then built to a sax solo and a fuzzed out guitar breakdown. But the real highlight of the show came with the final song, "Sweet Ride", which took the audience for a sonically sweet ride indeed. It built to a wild peak, with Einarsson suddenly pushing out into the crowd, still wildly playing his guitar, before climbing onto the bass drum and slinging his axe behind his head. Other members rolled on the stage, crashing into each other, mashing instruments against amps, and more carnage and madness. It was a high point of the day for sure.

Keep up with Oyama at their Bandcamp and Facebook, and below, watch the band play “Overflow” live for KEXP in 2013.