KEXP at Iceland Airwaves 2013, Day 2: My bubba

Next on the KEXP broadcast live from KEX Hostel at Iceland Airwaves is an Icelandic/Swedish folk duo My bubba. Their earlier efforts (released under the moniker “My bubba & Mi”) are deeply rooted in southern americana and folk. The songs are sparse, allowing their pure, delicate voices and entrancing harmonies to take center stage. My bubba recently finished a record with producer Noah Georgeson (who has also produced records for the likes of Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, and Bert Jansch), and their new sultry sound, while still simple and folky, shows that they aren’t going to be tied down to any one sound.

My bubba, joined by an upright bassist, opened their set with "Really, Really," which they described as a (seasonally appropriate!) "Zombie Gospel." Next they played their most recent single "Poem Found in the Pocket of an Amazon," from their forthcoming record Goes Abroader. The song, which takes place in the jungle, is a departure from their American southern sound--much less sparse, with a lot of depth added by their skillful bassist.

Next was a short, lovely a Capella song called "Dogs Laying Around Playing," accompanied only by synchronized drumming on their own bodies, then "East Cave/Going Home," a song that was half in English/half in Icelandic, and had a more ominous sound. "Island" was a little more upbeat, and true to its name, it had a sunny, beachy feel. They followed that with "Our Water Hours", which was written in singer/guitarist bubba's neighborhood geothermal pool.

The band said that they specialize in "short songs, jingles, and lullabies," which was apparent in their next song "Knitting." A minute long at most, the song was, of course, about knitting. They finished out their set with a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing," done in their distinctive bluesy style.

Next on KEXP at 10:00 PST/17:00 GMT is Mono Town. Stay tuned! Find out more about our broadcast during Iceland Airwaves here.