Smekkleysa, or Bad Taste as it would be said in English, is in many ways the quintessential independent label. They are located in Reykjavik, which is known for its vibrant music scene. They were started by a group of artists and music enthusiasts including members of the Sugarcubes. They publish poetry books, short films, greeting cards and other wonderful things.

From wikipedia: 'After the bankruptcy of Gramm Records, and the demise of KUKL, one of Iceland’s most important groups during the eighties, Einar Örn Benediktsson, one of the vocalists of KUKL and Ásmundur Jónsson and Dóra Einarsdóttir from Gramm, with other former musicians from KUKL and a surrealistic group called Medúsa, convened to create a record company called Smekkleysa in 1986.'

The label is the home of many of Iceland's up and coming artists, as well as a few internationally acclaimed acts, such as Sigur Rós (who release their albums in Iceland through the label).