Bad Taste Records (Iceland)



Bad Taste (also Smekkleysa for Icelandic) is Iceland’s most important record label; located in Reykjavík and worldwide known for being home of The Sugarcubes, it also publish poetry books, greetings cards and Icelandic gifts.

After the bankruptcy of Gramm Records, and the demise of KUKL, one of Iceland’s most important groups during the eighties, Einar Örn Benediktsson, one of the vocalists of KUKL and Ásmundur Jónsson from Gramm, next to other former musicians from KUKL and from a surrealistic group called Medúsa convened to create a record company called Smekkleysa in 1986, which later was renamed by its corresponding English translation, that is Bad Taste, a name given after Pablo Ruiz Picasso’s manifesto: “Good taste and frugality are the enemies of creativity”. Smekkleysa’s first work was a postcard drawn by Friðrik Erlingsson, who at that time was the guitar player of Sykurmolarnir (Icelandic for The Sugarcubes), a band led by Einar Örn and Björk. This piece of art contained the faces of Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan and a map of Iceland and the URSS and American flags as background, due to the Reykjavík Peace Summit which was to take place by October, 1986. Around 5,000 copies of this image were sold and the founds were used by the group to release their first record, a 7” vinyl single by Sykurmolarnir titled Einn Mol'á Mann (“One Cube per Person”) which contained the Icelandic versions of "Birthday" and "Cat", two songs that would appear later on their first album, Life’s Too Good in 1987 through Elektra Records; an album that served to boost the international acclaim of the Sugarcubes. However, Einn Mol'á Mann did not sell as expected, since the alternative music had always found difficult to reach to the public and most of the bands from the under scene used to sell their works at cafés, so as to the year 2000 this single was still available from the Ordering Department created in 1992.

When The Sugarcubes achieved an agreement with One Little Indian, a new record company created by Derek Birkett, their incomes increased with the release of Birthday, the first single published in England; a work that was chosen as single of the week by Melody Maker.

All the money earned by the Sugarcubes was primarily used for more projects and to support new bands to escort The Sugarcubes when touring. Bbut by the end of the eighties, it was clear that the end of the Sugarcubes was getting closer, and Björk released a jazz record in 1990 titled Gling-Gló while being in a short-lived group called Björk Guðmundsdóttir & Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar.

The growth of Bad Taste decreased after The Sugarcubes broke up in 1992 and even though it subsequently had a contract with Sigur Rós, the band moved to an English label; although Bad Taste still handles their Icelandic market. This was caused as Bad Taste’s contracts allowed artists’ freedom to choose to record their next work in another label. Today things are different and Bad Taste has first right to the next album of any artist after producing a CD with the record company. However, artists still have freedom to make the album they want.

Other projects of Bad Taste are a radio station called Skratti (“Devil”), a restaurant called Drullupytturinn (“The Mud Pit”) and awards to recognize the creative work of its artists.

Artists
0-9: 7oi. A: Ampop, Andheri, Andri Snaer Magnason, Anthony Burr, Apparat Organ Quartet, Asgerður Juniusdóttir, Askell Masson, Atli Heimir Sveinsson. B: Baldur, Bang Gang, Bara Grímsdóttir, Bellatrix, Birthmark, Björk, Blake, Bogomil Font, Borko, Botnledja, Brain Police, Brim, Bryndis Halla Gylfadóttir, Brynja Baldursdóttir - Book Art, Bubbleflies. C: Call Him Mr. Kid, Caput, Carl Moller, Ceres Fjorir. D: Daníel Bjarnason, Davíð Þór Jónsson, Didda, DIP, Dr. Gunni. E: Eberg, Egill, Egill Ólafsson, Einar Örn Benediktsson, Einoma, Elsa Sigfuss, Emiliana Torrini, Ensimi, EXEM, Exos, Eyvind Kang, Eyvor Palsdóttir. F: Falkar frá Keflavík, Fidel, Finnbogi Pétursson, Fræbbblarnir, Frostbite, Funk Harmony Park. G: Gabríela Friðriksdóttir, Graveslime, Grýlurnar, Gusgus. H: Hafdis Bjarnadóttir, Ham, Haukur Tomasson, Heiða, Hilmar Jensen, Hilmar Jensson, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Hljomar, Hringir, Hrodmar Ingi Sigurbjörnsson, Hudson Wayne. I: Icelandic Songs, Ilo. J: Jaguar, Joel Pálsson, Jóhann Jóhannsson, John Speight, Jón Leifs, Jorunn Viðar. K: Kammersveit Reykjavíkur, Kanada, Karolína Eiriksdóttir, Kimono, Kippi Kaninus, Kitchen Motors, Kjartan Valdemarsson, Klink, Kritikal Mazz, KUKL, Kvædamannafelagið Iðunn. L: Lace, Lárus H Grímsson, Lárus Sigurðsson, Leaves, Leifur Þorarinsson, Lhooq, Lúna, Luxus. M: Magga Stína, Magnús Blondal Jóhannsson, Margrét Boasdóttir, Margrét Örnólfsdóttir, Matthias MD Hemstock, Maus, Megas, Milljonamæringarnir, Mínus, Moa, Motorlab, Mugison, Múm. O: Okind, Olympia, Oz Artists, Ozy. P: Páll Isolfsson, Páll Pampichler Pálsson, Paul Óscar, Pax, Pétur Gretarsson, Pétur Jónasson, Purrkur Pillnikk. Q: Q4U, Quarashi. R: Risaedlan, Runk, Rymi. S: Saktmodigur, Sesar A, Siggi Armann, Sigriður Nielsdóttir, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, Sigur Rós, Sigurður Flósason, Singapore Sling, Sjón, Skakkamanage, Ske, Skuli Sverrisson, Slowblow, Snorri Sigfus Birgisson, Sodin Fidla, Sofandi, South Iceland Singers, Spilverk Þjodanna, Spoon, Spur Pópunar, Stafrænn Hakon, Steindor Andersen, Steintryggur, Stilluppsteypa, Stjornukisi, Stuna, Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson, Sveinn L. Björnsson. T - Þ: Tena Palmer, Texas Jesus, The Faculty, The Funerals, The Hamrahlid Choir, The Sugarcubes, Þeyr, Þór's Hammer, Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, Tómas R. Einarsson, Tommi White, Tonik, Trabant, Trúbrot, TV Pow. U: Úlpa, Unun, Utangarðsmenn. V: Vinyl. W: Worm is Green. Y: Yukatan. Compilations: various.

Contact
Mailing address: Bad Taste Mail Order / Smekkleysa P.O.Box 1263 121 Reykjavík Iceland

E-mail: info@smekkleysa.net

Related bibliography

 * Lobster or Fame, by Ólafur Jóhann Engilbertsson. Bad Taste (2000).