Iceland's Answer to Aloe Blacc-helmed Soul-Funk Revival, Júníus Meyvant Unveils Rollicking "Neon Experience" (Floating Harmonies Live On KEXP)

"Westman Islands singer-songwriter Júníus Meyvant [Unnar Gísli Sigurmundsson] has recently caused big waves in Scandinavia after being the star of the Icelandic Music Awards-winning Best Newcomer and Best Song, as well as being nominated for Best Male Singer and Best Song this year," read the opening of Mystic Sons' "Neon Experience"-accompanying press release. While his music has already been compared to the works of "Wake Me Up" Funkateer Aloe Blacc, Ben Howard, Lucy Rose, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, and Graffiti6, I would personally liken Meyvant's unique throwback sound to that of an Icelandic Rod Stewart backed by a Mark Ronson-produced rendition of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles or even something to the effect of critically-acclaimed Stones Throw New-Wop crooner, Mayer Hawthorne. Ahead of his forthcoming July LP, Floating Harmonies, Júníus Meyvant has honed in on a trademark sound that's been described as a rather unique fragmented mix of Soul, Folk, Pop, and Indie Rock, which "presents his creative abilities of the highest order; there's depth, there's feeling, and intricacy the listener can wrap their ears in."


"Neon Experience" is a slightly more upbeat Aloe Blacc-reminiscent Soul-Funk-indebted squalling 6-minute romper than Meyvant's previously released material, "Hailslide" and nearly 2-year-old "Color Decay." Floating Harmonies is set to become the proper full-length follow-up to Júníus Meyvant's befittingly-titled Record Records EP, EP, which included aforementioned singles "Hailslide" and "Color Decay," as well as "Gold Laces" and "Signals." "The sound of Júníus Meyvant is a rich and afflicted take on freaky Folk-Pop with a familiar and soulful feel; the feeling you get when listening to Júníus [is] equally as comfortable as resting under a thick wool blanket with a hot cup of cocoa," reads his translated Records Records Facebook Bio. Although, Júníus Meyvant's Floating Harmonies won't become available for mass world-wide consumption until July 8th, I've included a spirited horn-assisted 30-minute 7-song set recorded Live on KEXP transmitted from Kex Hostel in Reykjavik during Iceland Airwaves back in November 2014, which should be able to give you a solid overall feel for his fantastic-sounding as-yet-released album.