Various Artists: Made in Iceland V

Some have known for a while that there is a lot more to Iceland’s music scene than snow-queen Björk, but for those who are yet to explore the possibilities it would be hard to recommend a better introduction than Made in Iceland V. As you’d expect from such a country-focused compilation, the range of styles on offer is huge — including retro ’70s cock rock, minimalist electro and dayglo dance-pop to name but three — but the real advantage of this edition is its genuine consistency.

Sóley’s “I’ll Drown” may be too slow-burning a start, but before long the compilation is throwing up all manner of infectious surprises. On “Hellbound Heart”, a band named Reykjavík! translate the Clive Barker novella into surprisingly accessible punk, but Vigrí’s “Animals” is a ballad of real pathos, but nothing quite touches the wonderfully melodramatic “Shades” by symphonic folk band Árstíðir.