KEXP at Iceland Airwaves, Day 3: Agent Fresco

Next on the KEXP broadcast live from Kex Hostel at Iceland Airwaves was Icelandic art-rock band Agent Fresco. Formed in 2008, mere weeks before playing in the Icelandic battle of the bands (Músíktilraunir), at which they won best guitar, best drumming, and best bass playing. The four-piece band includes frontman Arnór Dan Arnarson, whose angelic voice was lent to Ólafur Arnalds’ 2013 release For Now I Am Winter. He cites the Icelandic climate as a major influence on their dark art-rock sound: “Living in a country that has summers of non-stop light and winters of almost complete darkness is bound to have an impact on your state of mind.” Agent Fresco's 2010 debut record A Long Time Listening centered around his father’s death. The band was then stuck in a creative rut with writing their second record, until Arnór Dan was attacked and severely injured, and found a creative outlet in writing these new songs (for Destrier, released earlier this year), helping him work through unresolved fear and anger.

A fair-sized crowd was gathered, ready to have their socks rocked off by the first heavier rock band of this year's broadcast. Super-loud hard rock guitars immediately filled the small space, with Arnór Dan's impressive falsetto, lending some extra drama to the aptly-named "Howls". Arnór Dan is an energetic performer, making use of all of the space available in the tiny stage area.

"Pyre" had a bit of an epic post-rock feel, while "Wait for Me" began with harsh grinding distortion, giving way to gentle piano and Arnór Dan's ethereal singing, mixing to a near dystopian soundtrack.  The crowd was in awe. Agent Fresco's songs blend genres seamlessly into a theatrical performance that's not quite metal, not quite prog, not quite post-rock, not quite math rock, and not quite pop, but somehow works beautifully. They closed their set with "The Autumn Red," a bass-heavy emotional powerhouse, with some spectacular otherworldy wails from Arnór Dan.