Listening to the dissonances of nature and nationhood in modern
Iceland
During the past three decades, Iceland has attained a strong presence in
the world through its musical culture, with images of the nation being
packaged and shipped out in melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. What
'Iceland' means for people, both at home and abroad, is conditioned by
music and its ability to animate notions of nature and nationality. In
six chapters that range from discussions of indie rock ballads to
'Nordic noir' television music, Dissonant Landscapes describes the
capacity of musical expression to transform ideas about nature and
nationality on the northern edges of Europe.