Have you ever cried at a concert? I have. Once. At the Chicago Theater. The deep hearted, emotional performance of sigur rós was the catalyst of my tears. I was turned on to the Icelandic band a few years prior by one of my guitar students at the time (thanks Maggie!). She told me check out ágætis byrjun and i wouldn’t be sorry. The only sorrow i felt was for others that had not heard of this band. The album was immediately infectious and didn’t leave my CD player for several months. They have released several albums since, none of which I have dove to deep into, until their latest effort með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly).
It seems that most foreign bands that break into the international spotlight take on English to reach a broader audience. Au contraire, sigor rós sticks with their native tongue of Icelandic and have occasionaly dabled with their own language appropriately titled Hopelandic. Sigur rós summons the arctic spirit in an epic fashion.
Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust is sigur rós’ fifth studio album. The album open’s with few tracks off their beaten track of atmospheric heavenly tearful melodrama. “Gobbledigook” jumps into giddy percussion, reminiscent of a tribal hunting theme. “”Inní mér syngur vitleysingur” continues on the same percussion path, going about as “pop” as sigur rós is capable of going. The second half of the album finds them settling into their expansive orchestration and lush melodies. Jonsi Birgisson’s voice is therapeutic and meditative for the open soul, healing whatever wounds that might be exposed. The nine and half minute epic, “Festival”, is a perfect example of this. The first four or so minutes consist of Birgisson’s gentle voice accompanied by a light organ arrangement, culminating into a heavenly crescendo of conviction.
Though, overall, I think a descent amount of this album is typical in the vein of sigur rós, there is really nothing wrong with that. An evolution is obvious and refreshing, and is what holds this album together. Their music translates into a stunning live show, one so spirited that you may find yourself face to face with “god”. They make a stop at the Chicago Theater, September 24.
sigur rós - “Gobbledigook”
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