Jóhann Jóhannsson - The Rocket Builder

[ABitOfTheUniverse]

"This is played by my Icelandic string quartet, with Matthias Hemstock on percussion, and me playing piano, pipe organ and fuzz bass." Johann Johannsson, October 31, 2008, 3:54pm

[ABitOfTheUniverse]

"He researched rocket fuel for the government during the day and conducted pagan rituals at night, as head of a Pasedena, California lodge of the Ordo Templi Orientis. The image of Parsons chanting Crowley´s “Ode to Pan” during rocket test flights is the inspiration for this track. Parsons died in an explosion in his garage under mysterious circumstances. A friend of mine said “this is an album about people who blew themselves up”, and he has a point." Johann Johannsson, October 31, 2008, 3:54pm

[ABitOfTheUniverse]

"So, doomed, failed utopias form one thematic strand and another one is rocketry. I read the biography of John Whiteside Parsons and was fascinated by this Aleister Crowley disciple and occultist who was also one of the fathers of space travel. In the 1930´s he invented the first truly successful rocket fuel, although he was basically a self-taught maverick, usually at odds with the government institutions in which he worked. He researched..." Johann Johannsson, October 31, 2008, 3:54pm

[ABitOfTheUniverse]

"So, doomed, failed utopias form one thematic strand and another one is rocketry. I read the biography of John Whiteside Parsons and was fascinated by this Aleister Crowley disciple and occultist who was also one of the fathers of space travel. In the 1930´s he invented the first truly successful rocket fuel, although he was basically a self-taught maverick, usually at odds with the government institutions in which he worked. He researched..." Johann Johannsson, October 31, 2008, 3:54pm

[MrLibertine84]

Apocalypse music. brilliant!

[asdfghjkl9260]

Great song from a broken country! :D

[lovetimelessmusic]

I love this song...it sounds wonderfull and the music...its a wonderfull song

it sound a bit sad but for me its the best song to think about things which where happened in my life

[yfaidherbe]

What the hell who would put a thumbs down for this awesome music!?

[plateofglue]

lol stop it at 1:58.

[jonahfox]

Is it weird that I listen to this when studying? lol

[plateofglue]

@jonahfox you should be able to do anything with his music lol

[4tech69]

@jonahfox Not at all.

[alphaspecie224]

Wikipedia "Fordlandia" - very interesting article!

[DJEdSaunders]

What a great piece, has a few similarities to Clint Mansell

[irishraider]

Try to get that many kids into one place these days and you get chaos.

[UberGut]

'Iceland: Beyond Sigur Ros' (2011). A new Anglo-Icelandic Music Documentary! Enjoy for FREE! :)

[xxxscenes]

I am. Overwhelmed. By this.

[vladnek]

iceland is where the gods were killed and from that chaos, beautiful music was born

[TiggerPoohism]

@vladnek Really?

[vladnek]

@TiggerPoohism yeah , really, in the 60's pop bands like abba make a difference, some starting muscians, said: this is shite, i would teach them what real music is. and the others where inspired by the music and use some of their music style to create some good rock bands, using things like synths, art, wheater is good or bad, is never never, is never enough, the 90's pop was scum comparated by black eyed peas or gaga, so the rock, now we had this sort of music :)

[TiggerPoohism]

@vladnek Ok!

[deltron9090]

i've returned to society... 

[hitech292002]

This guy is phenomenal and his music speaks volumes.

[z4crad]

E P I C M O D E  ACTIVATED!!

[RazerheadX]

this guy is a genius.... gorgeous music...

[theambiencefactory]

A favourite at our studio, just wonderful.

[TheXLTE]

his best art is and will always be the sun goes dim cuz he sang on that hell he gave every auto tuner a run for there money and he still used the classical i like this artist but he needs to sing more cuz when he sings it makes the music amillion times better not hateing on him thuo hes amzing a true legand!

[illspirit1965]

yeh, im getting all of this dudes works.

[sebs82]

When people tell me that Music is dead i always say music is not dead its just that peoples taste in music has diminished, you need to look and listen hard for the music you want to heaand be open minded.

[ohaiderrrr]

love this

[laf1lm]

this is simply ridiculous. Sigur Ros AND Johan Johannsson?!?!

I think Iceland is the birthplace of real music.

[wickirsinn]

Duck and cover! Very nice production!+

[scgcdmluvr]

If Burial wrote some classical inspired tunes, this is what they would sound like.

[FuellingObsession]

Did Iceland EVER produce crapy music/crappy artists?! I truly wonder... Every musical piece that comes out of Iceland seems to have been touched by king Midas.

[doubleplussgood]

@FuellingObsession i'm pretty sure you'll get deported if you make crappy music 

[deedreed2]

uhhhh.... rocket shooter

[TheGotganked]

This man is amazing !!

[ChunkyPirate]

3:24.

:D

[bassbytes]

Chooon! This always works so well on Charlie Brooker's Newswipe.

[JawiheaD]

i love it ! it's a amazing song :P ! very great !

[sam0xin]

Jóhann Jóhannsson ! his Masterpieces seems to me much more prayers then music...one in Screaming Masterpiece..."Odi et Amo" every time makes like maniacally crying kid..( I'm 45...) Genius Musician .

[barryharket]

i cannot believe that i have lived without this music up until now. to awaken from darkness on a dark lake in an empty vessel to find vision and warmth and direction.... thank you johann.

[E8mM68]

It IS undoubtedly the best thing ever made.

[ReluctantlyAwake]

This song may actually be the best thing ever.

[RonanG]

Beautiful music and great use of imagery.

RonanG

Iron Mountain Movies

[aderussell455]

If you are looking for the segment used on Charlie Brookers Newswipe, it starts at 3:23

[MrMalthus80]

Murcof sort of similar and also excellent

[kloipy]

this is incredible

[sucking345]

what great composer!

[warakies]

or Spinewood from Warakie (on youtube)

[djosiah21]

Wonkylenny, if you enjoy this, check out "Requiem for a Dream - Clint Mansell".

[TakashiKashikura]

the soundtrack from The Fountain by Clint Mansell is also excellent.

[Aida82c]

I agree. The score made that film. Excellent work.

[bassbytes]

This guy is a genuis.. I love how this is used as the background music to the poetry piece on Charlie Brooker's Newswipe.

[meatyminx]

THANK YOU

literally spent an hour trying to remember where i'd heard it

[Wonkylenny]

Ive only recently discovered this guy thanks to his music being used frequently on Charlie Brookers newswipe.

I absolutley love this music and ive already got my hands on most of his back cataloge.

I was wondering if anyone could recomend any similar artists? cheers.

[auschwitzu]

please check out

Arvo Part - Magnificat

or

Arvo Part 'Fratres I'

[BadlanAlun]

Or of course, Sigur Ros.

[eaglepies]

Check out Sigur Ros, their songs are a lot more vocal, and it's a different sound, but if you like this, you should like them. Plus they're both Icelandic :p

[wimvanzon01]

just too beautiful.....

[hornunderscore]

How did you find out it was used on newswipe?

I found it purely by coincidence which was pretty lucky. I'd love to know how you found out for the next time I hear a good tune on the TV

[STMilcke]

WOW man this so links in to my cyber/steampunk facination! And i'm gonna see him live thursday night! and i didn't even know what it was when i bought the ticket, was just going along with a friend..

definetly awesome stuff..

[tedsuplex]

excellent, pure and simple

[thevoiceofreason02]

Friggin wicked! I love JoJo!

[bleakstk]

...

[thevoiceofreason02]

What?

[portobeseno]

great, I love your sound ambients

[siggiola32]

Jóhann Jóhannsson is a genius. I have all his albums, except this one...and I'm definately getting my hands on it a.s.a.p. His music is very low key, but full of beauty. It has a gradual effect on the listener. I feel like a better person when I listen to his music.

[Guehlyn777]

it sounds like Brian Eno but with strings instruments... beautiful but nothing special. Harold Budd has done this music before with more sensibility.

[trollfinger]

Heard this on the radio yesterday. It's great. Never heard oh Johann Johannson before.

[auschwitzu]

so u should check Fordlandia my album of last year 2008

[trollfinger]

I did, and it's has a permanent place in one of the cd trays now.

[some1337]

Gonna buy it, too!

Very deep!

[KirdanRocks]

Omg

This music is a masterpiece.

Really hope iam gonna get the album for x-mas! xD

[cretinz]

Fantastic

[atilasonnichsen]

k thx :=)

[murphymumm]

Thanks for uploading this!

[evilbuddhist]

very moving music and images