It began not with this unsettling, elongated murmur but a thrillful pop number whose title translated in English to "Within Me a Lunatic Sings". It was 2007 and I was a decade late, but at least I found them. Or they found me.
The frenetic "Gobbledigook" hit me next - it was getting some airplay on Triple j, my major source for new music at the time - and then I had the the album from which these two songs came, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, in my possession. The glorious meshing of euphoria and melancholy had me hooked.
Research decreed Sigur Rós' second long-player, Ágætis byrjun, a classic, so that moody, textural beast was added next, closely followed by Takk…, (), Hvarf/Heim, Von and even the Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do EP. By the time Valtari and then Kveikur dropped, I was an established fan.
It was, in hindsight, a little strange to be so eagerly taking in music so mournful, for I was basking in the glow of a new love at the time. Although, it made perfect sense; within their vast scope sits love's roller coaster. I was thankful that I hadn’t discovered Sigur Rós a year earlier, whilst in the choker-hold of a major break up.
The Icelandic collective's knack of dredging up new levels of emotion is without peer; their sound is one of human vulnerability in the headlights, amplified through a sea of strings and Jónsi's voice, an achingly beautiful instrument in itself. We understand not a word - their lyrics are, of course, a mix of Icelandic and 'Hopelandic', a self-invented language - but this only adds to the allure. Choose your own adventure; or, better still, let them choose it for you.
They’ve been a constant companion for almost a decade now. The poppier numbers from Takk… and Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust powering my runs; the dark, graceful and ever-unhurried epics of Ágætis byrjun and () soundtracking quieter days at work, or wintry, red-wine-mellowed Sunday afternoons preparing slow-cooked dinners.
I dream of one day seeing them live in Reykjavík.
Here are Sigur Rós' best 15 songs:
1. Hoppípolla Takk…
2. Untitled #8 (Popplagið) ()The frenetic "Gobbledigook" hit me next - it was getting some airplay on Triple j, my major source for new music at the time - and then I had the the album from which these two songs came, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, in my possession. The glorious meshing of euphoria and melancholy had me hooked.
Research decreed Sigur Rós' second long-player, Ágætis byrjun, a classic, so that moody, textural beast was added next, closely followed by Takk…, (), Hvarf/Heim, Von and even the Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do EP. By the time Valtari and then Kveikur dropped, I was an established fan.
It was, in hindsight, a little strange to be so eagerly taking in music so mournful, for I was basking in the glow of a new love at the time. Although, it made perfect sense; within their vast scope sits love's roller coaster. I was thankful that I hadn’t discovered Sigur Rós a year earlier, whilst in the choker-hold of a major break up.
The Icelandic collective's knack of dredging up new levels of emotion is without peer; their sound is one of human vulnerability in the headlights, amplified through a sea of strings and Jónsi's voice, an achingly beautiful instrument in itself. We understand not a word - their lyrics are, of course, a mix of Icelandic and 'Hopelandic', a self-invented language - but this only adds to the allure. Choose your own adventure; or, better still, let them choose it for you.
They’ve been a constant companion for almost a decade now. The poppier numbers from Takk… and Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust powering my runs; the dark, graceful and ever-unhurried epics of Ágætis byrjun and () soundtracking quieter days at work, or wintry, red-wine-mellowed Sunday afternoons preparing slow-cooked dinners.
I dream of one day seeing them live in Reykjavík.
Here are Sigur Rós' best 15 songs:
3. Inní mér syngur vitleysingur Með suð í eyrum...
4. Glósóli Takk…
5. Starálfur Ágætis byrjun
6. Svo hljótt Takk…
7. Olsen Olsen Ágætis byrjun
8. Við spilum endalaust Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
9. Svefn-g-englar Ágætis byrjun
10. Untitled #4 (Njósnavélin) ()
11. Gong Takk…
12. Hljómalind Hvarf/Heim
13. Gobbledigook Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
14. Hafsól [Hvarf version] Hvarf/Heim
15. Ísjaki Kveikur
16. Se Lest Takk...
17. Ekki múkk" Valtari
18.
17. Ekki múkk" Valtari
18.
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