Sigur Ros - '( )' (Fatcat)
4/5
By: Toby L
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They've been deemed 'pretentious', emblazoned 'obscure', whilst others have defined their art as 'woefully sincere'. Ever the enigma, Sigur Ros' return with their third album to date, '( )', ensures that they're certainly set on heightening any such claims previously made over their beguiling produce.
Thus, here we are then with an album of eight parts, yet no titles, no artwork (we're advised to design our own within the provided booklet) and music so vividly apprehensive and precious that its true nature will understandably arise confusion amongst its spectrum of listeners. For, is this alternative music, a la fellow Iceland-reveller Bjork, or Oxfordians Radiohead? Classical instrumentation, with rich washings of strings and tender piano? Experimental art..? Whatever the concoction, much alike its predecessor, 'Agaetis Byrjun', '( )' is so sparse and seemingly unplanned that its content defies categorisation, providing the option of a clichι for true critics to suggest to their readers along the lines of 'listen, and decide for yourselves'.
Still, let's not give up completely; for those alien to such work, prepare yourselves for a challenging treat - master-class for the adventurous. With their latest clutch of material, Sigur Ros have evolved into a musical setting-sun, a desolate landscape of even more sweeping material, elevating vocals (all sung in their own conjured language of Hopelandish, naturally) and delicate guitar. The occasional orchestral swaths of before remain throughout, yet in a partial slumber, assisting the band's own enchanting unity rather than dominating the full picture.
Progression-wise, from the album's haunting and searing opening couplet of compositions, its ensuing hour of matter weaves and intertwines between the mildest of pre-arranged complexities, instead preferring to settle on mood-pieces which encapsulate the sound of a myriad of simultaneous spiritual-awakenings... Yes, it does often become that intense, and triumphantly concludes boldly, large slabs of Mogwai-esque nestling amongst the six-strings and vocals from John Thor Birgisson that Thom Yorke and Low would breathe out a collective gasp of impassioned, enraptured glee towards. Needless to say, the resulting effect is that of mutual intrigue and awe.
Whilst not, definitively speaking, serving as a 'conventional' release, there's enough raw beauty and edge to ensure that '( )' is arguably one of the year's finest efforts, stealing the spotlight from garage-rock, arresting the imaginations of the trendies, and arriving, suitably, just in time for winter. Now, what more could we ask for?
Artists in this article: Sigur Ros
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