Maus (band)


Maus is a rock band from Iceland, formed in 1993. The band consists of Birgir Örn "Biggi" Steinarsson on vocals and guitar, Daníel "Danni" Þorsteinsson on drums, Eggert Gíslason on bass, and Páll Ragnar "Palli" Pálsson on guitar. Most of their songs are sung in Icelandic, though English versions of some songs have been released, as well as some original songs in English. The band was active releasewise from 1994 to 2004 but still continue to play live. They released five studio albums, a number of singles and a compilation that also featured one new song and an bonus cd featuring unreleased demo's and remixes. The band was very active with live performances in and outside their native country. Abroad their most noticeable gigs where at the CMJ, Summerstage and touring Denmark. While active the band appeared at every Iceland Airwaves music festival including the first one. They were a popular supporting band for foreign bands who would visit Iceland. Those included bands/artists as Coldplay, Blonde Redhead, Ash, Ian Brown, Keane, Modest Mouse, and Placebo. Furthermore, Roger O'Donnell from The Cure has appeared as a guest keyboardist on their album Lof mér að falla að þínu eyra.
In December 2004 Maus went on a hiatus. Band members decided to pursue other interests, academic and otherwise, outside of Iceland. Meanwhile, members were working on several music projects including Fræ, Sometime and Biggi's solo project. Palli has become a respected classical composer after receiving his PhD in music from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn. Birgir became a screenwriter and won the Icelandic film awards Edda with co-writer and director Baldvin Z for the film Life in a Fishbowl, named after a popular track from Maus's fifth studio album, Musick.
In August 2013 all four members of Maus found themselves living in Reykjavík simultaneously, for the first time since the split. In November the same year they came together to play at a concert celebrating the 20 year birthday of local alternative and rock radio station X977 for a full house at Listasafn Reykjavíkur. The following spring they played at the Aldrei fór ég suður music festival in Ísafjörður. Two festival gigs followed that summer, at the first Secret Solstice festival and at metal festival Eistnaflug.
Early in 2015 the band announced that Maus would be playing gigs that year, including that years "Þjóðhátíð", the decades-old bank-holiday festival in Vestmannaeyjar. The band continues to reform sporadically, after three years of intermission they came together again to play a series of concerts, including the Iceland Airwaves festival, to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of "Lof mér að falla að þínu eyra"

Discography

''Allar kenningar heimsins… …og ögn meira'' (SM49CD)

released 17 September 1994 on Smekkleysa
  1. Ósnortinn
  2. Sár
  3. Ljósrof
  4. Líkþrá
  5. Drukknandi ég
  6. Fingurgómakviða
  7. Minn felustaður, minn haus
  8. Lost
  9. Leiftursýn

    ''Ghostsongs'' (163952)

released 26 October 1995 on Sproti
  1. Eingyðsvolæði
  2. Djúpnæturgangan
  3. Þinn viðhlæjandi og vinur
  4. Fylgjan
  5. Himbalagimbala
  6. Sætabrauðsdagarnir eru búnir
  7. Fingurgóma kviða
  8. Brúin
  9. Flæði
  10. Slæmur
  11. Girls on film
  12. Ótti

    ''Lof Mér Að Falla Að Þínu Eyra'' (SPROTI002)

released 4 November 1997 on Sproti
  1. Síðasta ástin fyrir pólskiptin
  2. 90 kr. perla
  3. Poppaldin
  4. Égímeilaðig
  5. Hreistur og slím
  6. Ungfrú Orðadrepir
  7. Kristalnótt
  8. Halastjarnan rekst á jörðina
  9. Tvíhöfða erindreki
  10. Ryðgaður geimgengill

    ''Í þessi sekúndubrot sem ég flýt'' (SPROTI012)

released 4 November 1999 on Sproti
  1. Strengir
  2. Báturinn minn lekur
  3. Dramafíkill
  4. Gefðu eftir
  5. Gerð úr við
  6. Allt sem þú lest er lygi
  7. Kerfisbundin þrá
  8. Kemur og fer
  9. Bílveiki
  10. Maðurinn með járnröddina

    ''How Far Is Too Far?''

released 2000
  1. How Far Is Too Far
  2. Strings
  3. Dramajunkie
  4. How Far Is Too Far
This is a promotional EP featuring English-language versions of "Kerfisbundin þrá", "Strengir", and "Dramafíkill". there is also an Enhanced CD portion on the disc featuring the "How Far Is Too Far?" video, a band biography and discography, press photos, and MP3s of three more translated songs: "Ungfrú Orðadrepir", "Égímeilaðig", and "Allt sem þú lest er lygi". This EP does not appear to have been released through a record company, and does not bear a catalog number.

''Nánast ólöglegt''

released 15 February 2002 on Tónlyst
  1. Nánast ólöglegt
  2. Bás 12
  3. Nánast ómögulegt
This is a limited edition single that was released by Maus in only 200 numeric copies. The cover-sleeve was handmade by the band and released in four different color-versions.

''Musick'' (SM104CD)

released 16 June 2003 on Smekkleysa
  1. A Selfish Need
  2. Musick
  3. How Far Is Too Far?
  4. My Favourite Excuse
  5. If You Stay…
  6. Emotional Morsecodes
  7. Without Caution
  8. Life In A Fishbowl
  9. Replacing My Bones
  10. "The Whole Package"
  11. Glerhjarta
Maus' first English language album. "How Far Is Too Far?" is a different version than the one released on the How Far Is Too Far? promotional EP.

''Tónlyst 1994 - 2004 / Lystaukar 1993 - 2004'' (DCD022)

released 18 October 2004

disc 1: Tónlyst 1994 - 2004
  1. Skjár
  2. Ljósrof
  3. Deepnightwalk
  4. Song About Fluids
  5. Égímeilaðig
  6. 90 kr. Perla
  7. Poppaldinn
  8. Ungfrú Orðadrepir
  9. Kristalnótt
  10. Allt sem þú lest er lygi
  11. Dramafíkill
  12. Kerfisbundin þrá
  13. Nánast ólöglegt
  14. Musick
  15. Life In A Fishbowl
  16. My Favourite Excuse
  17. Over Me, Under Me
disc 2: Lystaukar 1993 - 2004
  1. Liquid Substance
  2. Aftur, aftur og aftur
  3. Musick
  4. Mín uppáhalds afsökun
  5. Maus kynntir
  6. Ósnortinn
  7. Fingurgómakviða
  8. Kemur og fer
  9. Life In A Fishbowl
  10. Crawl
  11. Bláskjár
  12. Snjókóngur
  13. Tvíhöfða erindreki
  14. Þetta er ekki byrjun, bara nýr endir
  15. Þungur hnífur
  16. Far á himni
  17. Beittur trúarbrögðum
  18. Bás 12
"Deepnightwalk" is an English-language version of "Djúpnæturgangan;" " Kristalnótt" is an acoustic version of "Kristalnótt." "Liquid Substance" is a remix of "Replacing My Bones;" "Aftur, aftur og aftur" is a remix of "Life In A Fishbowl;" "Musick" is a remix of "Musick;" "Mín uppáhalds afsökun" is a remix of "My Favourite Excuse." Tracks 5-9 on disc 2 are live recordings, and tracks 10-18 are demos.

Videography

1994