WEEK 2 - SIGUR RÓS

I am particularly excited about sharing this week’s band, as their music will blow you away, guaranteed. If you have already heard of Sigur Rós, please pat yourself on the back. Despite the fact that this band actually has quite a large global fan-base, in some places, especially America, they don’t get much exposure. But now you know they exist! And it’s currently my task to make you listen. 

Sigur Rós hails from the capital of Iceland, Reykjavík (pronounced reɪkjəˌvik, duh), and released their debut album in 1994. The band is still currently active. Being that all the members are Icelandic, the song lyrics are in Icelandic too, so you will probably become fluent in the language after listening to an album or so. 

Now, allow me to attempt to describe Sigur Rós’s music. Just like last  week, I absolutely do not want to put this group into a box by comparing it to other artists or mashing together a turducken of genres to convey its sound. The word that most strongly comes to mind when I think of their music is beautiful. It is capable of evoking the strongest emotional responses of any music I’ve listened to. Certain compositions (I will not refer to them as mere songs!) will make you want to cry, others will fill you with bliss, and still others will make your chest swell with some indescribable sensation of oneness with the world that only great art can achieve.

Alright, so I’ve made this stuff sound pretty darn great so far, but what does it actually sound like? For most of the albums, the band is comprised of four central members with a full orchestra in accompaniment. The frontman, Jónsi Birgisson, sings and plays guitar. Now that may seem cliché, but there’s more! He sings in a beautiful falsetto voice, and he plays his guitar with a cello bow. Additionally, he is openly gay and blind in one eye. Cliché now? Nope. They have a drummer, a bassist, a pianist/flute/oboe/vibraphone player, and, usually, an orchestra. You can imagine those elements create an extremely unique sonic blend. The pianist composes most of the string and brass parts for the pieces, and he has serious talent. 

The music typically incorporates a wide range of moods and dynamics, creating very interesting soundscapes. Jónsi’s falsetto voice and bowed guitar create a thick, enchanting foundation for the rest of the ensemble to build on. The bassist and drummer lay down heavy, driving rhythms,  often very untraditional to the types found in rock or pop music. The real magic comes from the pianist and his compositions, which always shock and awe. One signature theme of Sigur Rós’s music is building on a simple motif for an entire song, creating intricate variations until blasting it all away with a massive orchestral finish. It will certainly be some of the most original music you ever get the privilege of hearing.

The one song I have selected as your introduction to the band is called “Hoppípolla,” which translates to, “hopping in puddles” in english. It’s one of their most uplifting songs, so if you’re into the dark stuff, keep exploring, they will not disappoint you. You can watch a live performance the band gave outdoors in Iceland here. Enjoy the incredible talent of Sigur Rós!