Album Review: BSÍ - Sometimes depressed... but always antifascist (2021)

Picture Credit: BSÍ
Photograph and Artwork: Berglind Erna Tryggvadóttir
Denim Jackets: Helga Guðrún Þorbjörndóttir


 BSÍ - Sometimes depressed... but always antifascist
Release Date: May 21, 2021
Label: Tomatenplatten / post-dreifing / Why not? Plötuútgáfa
Format: Vinyl / Digital
Length: 36:26
Genre: Lofi Indie Cute Pop Punk
Origin: ReykjavíkIceland

Here it is, the debut album bby Sigurlaug Thorarensen and Julius Pollux Rothlaender. Together they are Brussels Sprout Intl., or short: BSÍ - apparently the most desolate place in their hometown Reykjavík. One can argue whether, this release is an LP or a double-EP since it consists of the two sides "Sometimes depressed" (or: "Stundum Þunglynd" in Icelandic) and "But always antifascist" ("En alltaf andfasisk"). Each side of the album has its unique sound, theme, and style.
As a side-note, when I was younger, I had a leather jacket on which I wrote the words "Sometimes antisocial, but always antifascist".



A-Side: Sometimes depressed / Stundum Þunglynd

Length: 21:49

The A-Side is defined by atmospheric, ambient, and melancholic sounds. One can draw parallels to the famous Icelandic Björk here. The five tracks can mostly be located within the realms of Shoegaze and slower variants of Lofi Indie Rock and Post Punk. All lyrics on"Sometimes depressed" are English and concern melancholic topics such as wanderlust, break-ups, or the longing for general improvements in life.


B-Side: But always antifascist / En alltaf andfasisk
Length: 14:36

Once, the record is flipped over to the B-Side, BSÍ present themselves a lot more energetic. "But always antifascist" is not only the more political of the two sides, it is a lot faster, too. Here, the band plays boppy Pop Punk played in a minimalist and dynamic way. On these five tracks, Brussels Sprout Intl. raise their voices against sexism, racism, misogyny, ableims, homophobia, transphobia, patriarchy, oppression,... The B-Side is an empowering, colourful, and deliberating moshpit presented in both, English and Icelandic lyrics.

No matter if you regard "Sometimes depressed... but always antifascist" as one album or as two EPs, it is a unique and absolutely awesome release. These 36 minutes are full of emotions and action.

Oh and by the way, here are two Bandcamp codes for you:
lbwn-5xr9
ms29-5xpv
Redeem here

Content from the MangoReviews will always stay in the MangoRotation playlist for 14 days.

BSÍ Online:
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