GusGus is an Icelandic electronic music band from Reykjavík. Although initially a film and acting collective, the group is mostly known for its electronic music. The group's discography consists of twelve studio albums.
History GusGus was initially formed in 1995 as a film and acting collective. The band's name refers to a scene in the 1974 German melodrama film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul () by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, in which a female character is cooking couscous for her lover, mispronouncing the food Gusgus.Gusgus Interview with Nina Asseng, Berlin 2007 (comment by Daníel Ágúst, starting at 5:30)
GusGus' music is eclectic; although primarily classified as techno, trip hop, or house music, the band has experimented with other sounds. They have remixed songs of popular artists such as Björk, Depeche Mode, Moloko, and Sigur Rós.
During its existence, GusGus has had as members: Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir Magnús Jónsson (aka Blake) Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir Urður Hákonardóttir (aka Earth) Högni Egilsson Birgir Þórarinsson (aka Biggi Veira or Biggo) Magnús Guðmundsson (aka Maggi Lego, Herb Legowitz, Hunk of a Man, Buckmaster De La Cruz, The Fox, Fuckmaster, or Herr Legowitz) Stephan Stephensen (aka President Bongo, Alfred More, or President Penis) Sigurður Kjartansson (aka Siggi Kinski) Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson Baldur Stefánsson (Director of Financial Arts, aka DJ Tekno Jörgensen) Ragnheiður Axel Páll Garðarsson
In 1998, a remix of the track "Purple" appeared on Paul Oakenfold's trance compilation album Tranceport.
After the group's third album, This Is Normal (1999), the filmmaking arm of GusGus (Kjartansson and Árni Þorgeirsson) split off to form the production company Celebrator, now known as Arni & Kinski, which has produced advertisements and videos.
In January 2004, GusGus released the song "Desire" with Ian Brown.
As of early 2011, over 700,000 GusGus albums had been sold worldwide.
GusGus, as of 2015, consists of four members: President Bongo, Biggi Veira, Urður Hákonardóttir and Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson.
Some former GusGus members, such as Hafdís Huld, Blake, and Daníel Ágúst have pursued solo musical careers. Emilíana Torrini recorded a song for the soundtrack of Peter Jackson's 2002 film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Band members 1995 Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir Magnús Jónsson Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir Birgir Þórarinsson Magnús Guðmundsson Sigurður Kjartansson Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson Baldur Stefánsson Ragnheiður Axel Páll Garðarsson 1996–2000 Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Magnús Jónsson Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir Birgir Þórarinsson Magnús Guðmundsson Sigurður Kjartansson Stefán Árni Þorgeirsson Stephan Stephensen Baldur Stefánsson 2001–2007 Urður Hákonardóttir Birgir Þórarinsson Stephan Stephensen Magnús Guðmundsson 2008–2010 Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Birgir Þórarinsson Stephan Stephensen 2011–2013 Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Högni Egilsson Urður Hákonardóttir Birgir Þórarinsson Stephan Stephensen 2014–2016 Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Högni Egilsson Birgir Þórarinsson 2016–2020 Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Birgir Þórarinsson 2021–present Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Birgir Þórarinsson Margrét Rán Magnúsdóttir
Timeline
Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album detailsPeak chart positions ISLTónlist chart positions:
Mobile Home: Arabian Horse: DanceOrama: AUS N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. FRA GER SWI UKGus GusReleased: 1995 Self-released——————Polydistortion Released: 7 April 1997 Label: 4AD——————This Is NormalReleased: 26 April 1999 Label: 4AD—694065—94Gus Gus vs. T-WorldReleased: 24 April 2000 Label: 4AD——————Attention Released: 14 October 2002 Label: Moonshine / Underwater—————Forever Released: 23 February 2007 Label: Pineapple——————24/7Released: 14 September 2009 Label: Kompakt——————Arabian HorseReleased: 23 May 2011 Label: Kompakt1—————MexicoReleased: 23 June 2014 Label: Kompakt ———6282—Lies Are More Flexible Released: 23 February 2018 Label: Oroom——————Mobile HomeReleased: 28 May 2021 Label: Oroom11—————DanceOramaReleased: 10 November 2023 Label: Oroom8—————
Live albums Mixed Live at Sirkus, Reykjavik (2003)
Compilations 15 ára (2010)
EPs New Arrivals (2025)
Singles "Polyesterday" (1996) — UK No. 55 (as Purple EP: Polyesterday) "Believe" (1997) — UK No. 154 "Standard Stuff for Drama" (1997) "Ladyshave" (1999) — UK No. 64, AUS No. 192 "V.I.P." (1999) — UK No. 86 "Starlovers" (1999) — UK No. 62, AUS No. 195 "Dance You Down" (2002) — UK No. 141 "Desire" (2002) — UK No. 95 "David" (2003) — UK No. 52, AUS No. 106 "Call of the Wild" (2003) — UK No. 75 "Lust / Porn" (2005) "Need in Me" (2005) — BG No. 24 "Forever Sampler" (2006) "Moss" (2007) "Hold You" (2007) "Add This Song" (2009) "Thin Ice" (2009) "Within You" (2011) "Over" (2011) "Deep Inside" (2011) "Crossfade" (2014) "Obnoxiously Sexual" (2014) "Mexico" (2014) "Airwaves" (2014) "Featherlight" (2017) "Don't Know How to Love" (2018) "Lifetime" (2019) "Out of Place" (2020) "Higher" feat Vök (2020) "Stay the Ride" (2021) "Our World" (2021) "Love is Alone" feat John Grant (2021) "Simple Tuesday" (2021) "Bolero EP" feat John Grant (2022) "Into the Strange" (2023) "Eða?" feat Birnir (2023) "When we Sing" (2023) — UA No. 55
See also List of bands from Iceland
References
External links