Benni Hemm Hemm

The Icelandic indie pop outfit Benni Hemm Hemm, led by Benedikt H. Hermannsson, originated after the musician issued a limited solo EP called SummerPlate in 2003 and subsequently spent several months in Italy composing fresh material. Assembling a complete ensemble that incorporated trumpet, bass, and flügelhorn, the group delivered their inaugural self-titled long-player via Smákökurnar Records in Iceland during September 2005; subsequent editions appeared across Japan, Europe, and North America in the next year through P-Vine and Morr Music. Their follow-up effort, Kajak, which was tracked over just a handful of days inside Sigur Rós' facility, emerged in Iceland during November 2006 and reached American listeners by May 2007. Murta St. Calunga arrived as the third studio release in 2008. Benni Hemm Hemm resurfaced in 2011 via Skot, an album on which Hermannsson received support from the Icelandic pop group Retro Stefson.