"I Live Here. Now." is the second album from Icelandic/SanFrancisco band Laxá. 12 new tracks following up 2020's self-titled release.

Laxá - Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards
Lisbeth Heima - Strings & Grand Piano

I Live Here. Now. by Laxá

He was wearied, tired. Everything was too much, there wasn't another thought that could fit inside his head, nothing else he could do, but even admitting it was failure, so he pushed on until he broke. And when he did there were few to catch him.

A massive tune charting the slow decline, "Away From Here" is for anyone struggling alone. Laxá chart the hope, the darkness and the continuing journey. Jussi's guitar cries at the hopelessness, Mike's keyboards reach the heavens and Bjarne's bass booms while Matthias provides clarity amidst the chaos.

Laxá - Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards


_________

LISTEN TO MORE OF LAXÁ'S WORK AT: soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/i-live-here-now

Away From Here by Laxá

Recorded in the early hours of an Icelandic Summer morning during the season when the sun never sets, "Where The Doors Face East", finds Laxá in mellow and reflective mood. Jusssi's guitar weaves and layers while Mike's keyboards reflect the shimmering water on the nearby river. Lisbeth guests on this with some beautiful melodica, as Bjarne and Matthias keep the chill vibe going.

Listen to more at: https://soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/i-live-here-now

Laxá - Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards
Lisbeth Heima - Electric Melodica

Where The Doors Face East by Laxá

There's nothing quite like surfing near Húsavík , the water is cold and clear and black sand make it a memorable visit. Matthias is the best surfer in the group and was originally from Húsavík so the band spent a few days surfing and partying before settling down, inspired to write "Surfacing" about emerging from the frigid waters into the sun, surfing with friends.

Listen to more at: https://soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/i-live-here-now

Laxá - Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards
Lisbeth Heima - Electric Flute / Bells

Surfacing by Laxá

Inspired by a trip to Reynisfjara  on an uncharacteristically calm day where the wind died away and the sun showed itself, the band returned to their Reykjavík studio and wrote "Black Sand".

The driving start gives way to a calmer feel reflecting the weather that day and Mike's Rhodes keyboard adds a mellow feel to the piece, Jussi's guitar replicates this later in the song.

Listen to more at: soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/i-live-here-now

Laxá - Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards
Lisbeth Heima - Bells

Black Sand by Laxá

Join us as we dive into the haunting narrative behind "The Halting Shadow's Breath" by Laxá. Mike Taylor's chilling encounter sets the stage for this mesmerizing post-rock journey. Experience the unique sound palette crafted by Jussi Siglarson, Bjarne Guðjohnsen, Matthias Helguson, and Mike Taylor, blending cool resonance, rhythmic depth, and sci-fi synths. Don't miss out on this Icelandic-San Franciscan fusion of soundscapes! 🎸🎶

Mike Taylor swears the story is true. And the story gave Laxá the title for this song. The band were playing a show at a dive bar on Ingólfsstræti and took a break. Keyboard player Mike went outside to cool down and get a few moments peace between sets. Behind the venue was an alley near the stage door and he sat on the steps looking up at the clear night sky.

As he did he noticed a slight movement to his right, a shadow cast on a wall, as he turned his gaze towards it the shadow stopped and froze in place. Looking for the source of the shadow, thinking someone else was in the alley, Mike realized he was alone and as he glanced back, the shadow remained frozen but from its mouth, it's chill breath cast along the wall.

The hairs on Mike's neck stood up and he froze momentarily before, taking one last look at the disembodied shadow, he rushed back inside to finish the show.

Laxá - Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards

"The Halting Shadow's Breath: A Post-Rock ghost story from Laxá"

Laxá's "I Live Here. Now." epitomizes their signature blend of post-rock and progressive metal. Influenced by the sound of Southern Rock guitars of the 70s, the track also carries a West Coast, almost psychedelic, feel embodied in the organ playing of Mike Taylor. Featuring intricate guitar work by Jussi Siglarson, thunderous drums by Matthias Helguson, and dynamic shifts in intensity, the song showcases the band's mastery of their craft. With its haunting melodies and powerful crescendos, "I Live Here. Now." is a standout example of Laxá's ability to create captivating instrumental narratives that resonate deeply with fans of both genres. Lisbeth Heima's electric cello adds a haunting and ethereal quality, further enriching the band's captivating sonic landscape.

I Live Here. Now. By Laxá. Post-rock. Post-metal. Progressive rock. Progressive metal.

If you're new to Laxá, "The Last Small Square of Light" is the second track from their new album "I Live Here Now". 

There's no raging against the dying of the light it's just getting dark. 

Matthias' Jamaican influenced drums are to the fore, while Mike's keyboards have a haunting fairground ring to them, whistful and sinister. 

Bjarne's bass is a heavy undercurrent allowing Jussi's guitars to thread their way through the soundscape. 

And the vocals? They're Bjarne's choral howl.

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass/Vocals
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards

The Last Small Square Of Light By Laxá

The inspiration for this song? A drive out of town late at night, sitting and talking, laughing and gazing across the city to the ocean and the stars, seemingly below on a cool, clear night. 

Jussi,  with acoustic guitar in hand, strummed the main rhythm and the rest came together in the studio the next day.

Dramatic and sweeping, the guitars resonate from here to there, crossing the space in between.

Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards
Lisbeth Heima - Flute

____________________________

From the album "I Live Here. Now.". You listen to more at https://soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/i-live-here-now

Looking Down On The Stars by Laxá

Starting with only a bass line inspired by a reggae track from 1981, "What's Blurred Remains" was born as an Icelandic postrock instrumental track. Jussi's guitars weave magically through the piece as Matthias' drum also pick up on the Jamaican vibe with Mike adding his signature psychedeli keyboards to the mix. Lisbeth again adds flute.

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards
Lisbeth Heima - Flute

_________

LISTEN TO MORE OF LAXÁ'S WORK AT: https://soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/i-live-here-now

What's Blurred Remains by Laxá. Icelandic post rock.

Mourning and  loss is part of life and so it was with the song "Jiva Vanishes". When someone or something that is part of your life is no longer present, there's a space left, a space that may be filled with distant echoes of that presence but a presence that become tangible in its absence. This is Laxá at their most mournful. The guitars cry and the bass thunders into the void as "Jiva Vanishes".

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards
Jiva - The space in between

_________

LISTEN TO MORE OF LAXÁ'S WORK AT: soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/i-live-here-now

Jiva Vanishes by Laxá

Keyboard player Mike Taylor could never quite work out where his tutor came from. He lived in lodgings on his street and hung around the local bar. 

Some people said he used to be in a big psych band in '67, but Mike could never quite find out. Sure there were the weekly lessons but his tutor never said much, just showed him to the keyboard in his dusty room with tattered gig posters on the wall and had him play.

"Nine Fingers" was all he gave him, it's hidden in the track if you listen closely. A pattern that his mentor told him just took nine fingers to play. Mike remembered and from that day he brought the track to the band and it become the eponymous "Nine Fingers".

The track kicks off with Jussi's guitar but it's not long before Mike takes center stage recalling the 60's melody from his mysterious teacher.

Laxá - Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards


_________

LISTEN TO MORE OF LAXÁ'S WORK AT: soundcloud.com/these-guitars-say-sorry/sets/i-live-here-now

Nine Fingers by Laxá

"Massive space dub" may not be a genre, but when Bjarne coined the phrase the rest of the band knew what he meant. 

The band had just finished "Countless" and were playing it back on the studio monitors, their heads nodding in unison to a tune that owed its roots to Jamaica with Bjarne's dub plate bass lines and Matthias' reverb heavy drums but also owed a debt to Jussi's guitars and Mike's keyboards.

The 7th track on the band's new album, "Countless" was made start to finish in less than 48 hours and takes post rock forward into dub territory.


Laxá | Iceland | San Francisco | Everywhere

Jussi Siglarson - Guitar
Bjarne Guðjohnsen - Bass
Matthias Helguson - Drums
Mike Taylor - Keyboards

Laxá's post-rock dub melds post-rock's atmospheric experimentation with dub's bass-driven rhythms and studio effects. It features expansive guitar layers, deep basslines, swirling synths, and intricate percussion. Hypnotic and immersive, it employs dub's echo, delay, and reverb for a spacious sound, creating a unique blend of introspection and rhythmic intensity.

Countless by Laxá. Massive space dub, post rock reggae vibes.

Composer of music for film, games and live performance. Originally from the UK, now living and working in the Pacific Northwest. 
Ambient | Classical | Dark Jazz | Singer Songwriter | Post Rock

Support my work at https://www.patreon.com/tgss from $1 month. Thanks for your support.

Purchase my music on Bandcamp https://theseguitarssaysorry.bandcamp.com/

Licensing music for games and film.

Message me for details on licensing, inquiries, commissions and collabs.

I Live Here. Now. by Laxá

TGSS/Langsämmer /Jünger/ Laxá/The Dark Messiahs