Kristnihald undir Jökli

Infobox Album
Name = Kristnihald undir Jökli
Type = studio
Artist = Quarashi
Background = Orange
Released = September 22, 2001
Recorded = 2001
Genre = Techno, Pop, Classical, Jazz, Electronic, Rock
Length = 42:45
Label = Sproti
Producer = Sölvi Blöndal, Hössi Olafsson
Last album = "Xeneizes" (1999)
This album = "Kristnihald undir Jökli" (2001)
Next album = "Jinx" (2002)

"Kristnihald undir Jökli" is an album by Quarashi. It was released on September 22, 2001 in Iceland (see 2001 in music). The album contains mostly instrumental music written and produced by Quarashi founding members, Sölvi Blöndal and Hössi Olafsson as the soundtrack for the Halldór Laxness play, "Kristnihald undir Jökli", itself based on his 1968 novel of the same title translated into English as "Christianity at Glacier" and republished since as "Under the Glacier". The play was directed by Bergur Þór Ingólfsson, and ran in the Borgarleikhús in the winter of 2001. "Kristnihald undir Jökli" fused traditional Icelandic classical music with techno, electronic music, and rock. The album also delved into genres fans hadn't heard from Quarashi yet, such as jazz.

Even though neither Omar Swarez, nor Steini a.k.a. Stoney did any work on the album, "Kristnihald undir Jökli" was still released under the Quarashi name, and is considered Quarashi's third full-length album. Only 500 copies of "Kristnihald undir Jökli" were made, but most of them were sold, and it is rare to find the CD today.

Because of the album's rarity, it is currently available for free, high quality download at http://www.quarashimusic.blogspot.com

Track listing

#"Úa" - 2:08
#"Smíðavél" - 2:32
#"Hulduhrútur" - 1:48
#"Beitahúsamenn" - 3:47
#"Prímus" - 5:02
#"Godman Sýngmann" - 4:04
#"Úrsúlulokkur" - 5:22
#"Úrsúlugjá" - 2:15
#"Umbi" - 5:11
#"Prímus (80's)" - 3:09
#"Umbi II" - 2:11
#"Prímus (Vox)" - 2:31
#"Úrsúlugjá (Instrumental)" - 2:13

Miscellanea

*Although Quarashi was already signed with Columbia Records by September 2001, "Kristnihald undir Jökli" was not released through that label. Instead, it was released through Icelandic record label, Sproti.

*The only songs that contain vocals are "Beitahúsamenn", "Godman Sýngmann", "Úrsúlulokkur", "Úrsúlugjá", and "Prímus (Vox)".

*Hössi Olafsson has been quoted as saying that working on "Kristnihald undir Jökli" was "one of the most amazing things I've ever done in my life."

*"Kristnihald undir Jökli" marks the first time that Steini a.k.a. Stoney did not participate on a Quarashi album. He would later chose not to participate on "Guerilla Disco" in 2004.

*On October 25, 2001, Quarashi performed a live concert with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra (the band, Botnleðja also performed) in the Háskólabíó in Reykjavík, Iceland, which is notable for being the first time that a rap act performed a live concert with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. Quarashi performed seven songs from their (at the time) upcoming album, "Jinx".