Eik -

Eik was an Icelandic funk-rock band that released the 1976/77 albums Speglun and Hríslan og Straumurinn.

Members: Haraldur Þorsteinsson (bass), Gestur Guðnason (guitar), Óli Sigurðsson (drums,1973-75), Þorsteinn Magnusson (guitar, 1973-74), Larus Grimsson (keyboards, flute, 1973-?), Arni Sigurdsson (vocals, 1974), Herbert Gudmundsson (vocals, 1975), Sigurdur Kristmann Sigurdsson (vocals, 1975-77), Olafur Kolbeins (drums, 1975-77), Tryggvi Hübner (guitar, 1977-78), Asgeir Oskarsson (drums, 1977-78), Petur Hjaltested (Hammond organ, 1977-78), Magnus F. Johannsson (vocals, 1977-78)

Background

Eik formed in Reykjavík in spring 1972 when bassist Haraldur Þorsteinsson and drummer Ólafur Sigurðsson, former members of Pops, teamed with guitarist Gestur Guðnason, previously of Tatarar and Rosie.

Haraldur started on guitar in an Austurbæjarskóli school band that evolved into the blues group Sókrates. He subsequently switched to bass and joined Litli matjurtagarðurinn and Pops. Guitarist Þorsteinn Magnússon and singer-flautist Lárus Halldór Grímsson soon joined the new group. Lárus learned flute with Skólahljómsveit Vesturbæjar from age ten and entered Tónlistarskólinn í Reykjavík. Eik rehearsed in the basement of a carwash on Sigtún and made their first public appearances in autumn 1972 with original rock material.

In late winter 1973, Eik briefly employed two visiting American singers and incorporated American soul covers into their repertoire. Icelandic authorities expelled the pair several weeks later because they lacked employment permits. Árni Sigurðsson subsequently joined as lead vocalist, which allowed Lárus to concentrate on flute and keyboards, including synthesizers. Gestur departed that summer, leaving Þorsteinn as the sole guitarist. Haraldur and Ólafur traveled to Britain in autumn 1973 and spent a month presenting band material to prospective record companies.

Eik suspended performances for several months in spring 1974 while the members earned money to purchase equipment. The group divided their subsequent live repertoire between instrumental originals and dance-oriented covers. Árni departed that autumn, replaced by Herbert Guðmundsson, a former singer with Stofnþel and Tilvera. Herbert remained until spring 1975, when he replaced singer Pétur Kristjánsson in the band Pelican.

“Hotel Garbage Can”

Eik enlisted Sigurður Kristmann Sigurðsson, who previously sang with Droplaug, Systir Söru, and the second incarnation of Stofnþel. The new lineup cut the autumn 1975 Demant single “Hotel Garbage Can” (b/w “Mr. Sadness”), recorded with saxophonist Sigurður Long and three backing vocalists.

A. “Hotel Garbage Can” (3:50)
B. “Mr. Sadness” (3:20)

In early 1976, Eik replaced drummer Ólafur Sigurðsson with Ólafur Júlíusson Kolbeins, a prior member of Paradís. Demant, which also managed Eik concert bookings, went bankrupt around this time. Former Icecross guitarist Axel Einarsson assumed Eik’s management duties. Eik entered Hljóðriti studio in Hafnarfjörður in spring 1976 to record their first album. The musicians also backed Einarsson on his solo recordings.

In August, members and associates established Deildarbungubræður as a dance-band offshoot for an outdoor festival at Melgerðismelar in Skagafjörður. Þorsteinn played drums and Lárus switched to guitar for the performance. Eik subsequently prepared the Hljóðriti recordings for independent release as Speglun.

Speglun

Eik self-released their debut album, Speglun, in December 1976 as EIK 001.

A1. “Stormy Monday”
A2. “Memories”
A3. “Funky Beat”
A4. “Lullaby”
A5. “Keep On Goin'”

B1. “Hugsyn”
B2. “Speglun”

-Sigurður K. Sigurðsson – vocals
-Lárus Halldór Grímsson – piano, organ, Fender Rhodes, ARP Odyssey, mini-Moog, piccolo, flute, backing vocals
-Þorsteinn Magnússon – guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
-Haraldur Þorsteinsson – bass
-Ólafur Júlíusson Kolbeins – drums, tambourine, cowbell

Tony Cook – recording engineer
Axel Einarsson – backing vocals, assistant engineer

Hríslan og Straumurinn

Eik released their second album, Hríslan og Straumurinn, in August 1977 on Steinar.

A1. “Hríslan og Straumurinn (The Twig and the Stream)” (14:23)
A2. “Eitthvað Almennilegt (Something Decent)” (4:05)

B1. “Diskósnúðurinn (The Disc Jockey)” (2:01)
B2. “Í Dvala (Hibernating)” (2:23)
B3. “Átthagar (Native Region)” (3:17)
B4. “Fúnk (Funk)” (4:16)
B5. “Fjöll (Mountains)” (4:27)
B6. “Í Stuttu Máli (Briefly)” (0:48)

-Magnús Finnur Jóhannsson – lead vocals, flute
-Pétur Hjaltested – Hammond organ, fender rhodes, harmonium, mini moog, arp synthesizer, backing vocals
-Lárus Halldór Grímsson – piano, fender rhodes, ARP Odyssey, mini moog, ARP Solina string synthesizer, marimba, piccolo flute, percussion, backing vocals
-Tryggvi Hübner – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals
-Thorsteinn Magnússon – guitar, mini moog, backing vocals
-Haraldur Þorsteinsson – bass, percussion, backing vocals, whistle
-Ásgeir Óskarsson – drums, percussion, timpani, congas

Discography:

“Hotel Garbage Can” / “Mr. Sadness” ‎(1975)
Speglun (1976)
Hríslan og Straumurinn (1977)

Sources:

Resources and notes

Eik (1972–79 / 2000). Helgi J., January 19, 2015. Detailed chronological account of the formation, Sigtún rehearsal site, American singers, British trip, personnel changes, Demant bankruptcy, and first album sessions. (Glatkistan)
Pops [1] (1966–70). August 1, 2016. Documents the earlier activities of Ólafur Sigurðsson and Haraldur Þorsteinsson, including the latter’s arrival from Litli matjurtagarðurinn. (Glatkistan)
Haraldur Þorsteinsson (1952–). October 4, 2023. Biographical account of his school-band origins, Sókrates, early blues performances, and subsequent involvement with Eik. (Glatkistan)
Tónleikaröð kennara: Fagott í forgrunni. November 12, 2007. Contains a biography of Lárus Halldór Grímsson with flute instruction, school enrollment in 1971, and early keyboard activities. (Tónlistarskóli Kópavogs)
Sigurður Kr. Sigurðsson (1955–2017). April 5, 2023. Traces the vocalist through Droplaug, Systir Söru, Stofnþel, and Eik, including his 1975 recording debut with the group. (Glatkistan)
Paradís [1] (1975–77). April 20, 2016. Establishes the May 1975 Pelican split, formation of Paradís, and the late-1975 dispute that preceded Kolbeins joining Eik. (Glatkistan)
Eik – Efni á plötum. January 19, 2015. Discographical listing with the Demant single, its guest musicians, and personnel credits for Speglun. (Glatkistan)
Deildarbungubræður (1976–79). January 19, 2015. Identifies the initial dance-band lineup and first performance at Melgerðismelar in August 1976. (Glatkistan)
Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadours, Volume One. Paul Hillery. Identifies the A/B-side order of the Demant single and corroborates its personnel credits. (Paul Hillery)