Beautiful Music...

Sigur Rós - Valtari
Genre: Post-rock/ Indie/ Ambient
Rating: 5/5


I feel kind of uneasy about starting off this review with a 5/5 review. After all, from what I know of reviews, that's the one thing you rarely ever see. Unless the artist in question has somehow created such a brilliant collection of music that the reviewer really, really enjoys.
Enter Sigur Rós.


Now I must point out that this Icelandic band is probably not going to be everyone's cup of tea. For instance, my brother, who mostly listens to metal these days, probably wouldn't be that into these guys. But for anyone who can just sit back and listen with an open mind and appreciate the beauty of music; then I can almost guarantee Sigur Rós is going to blow your mind. 


As I sit and type, a little niggle in the back of my mind forces me to admit this is not the easiest of reviews to type. This is in part because this Icelandic band barely ever sings in the English language (or any discernible language for that matter). As there is a lack of understandable lyrics or even recognizable phrases, this album seems to lean more to being more of an immense, incredible soundtrack than a collection of short pieces of music. The other reason is because every song on this album is really long. The shortest track is just over five minutes, which in itself is a full minute over the length most pop songs. At first this confused me, because with only 8 'songs' I thought I was buying an EP or something. Thankfully not. Or at least, if anyone has the guts to call this an EP, it'll be the longest running one I'll have ever seen! 


Yet while this change from the standard format of most albums these days might throw some people off, I found it one of the best things about this album. Both as individual pieces, and together as a whole, the songs off Valtari are absolutely incredible pieces of music. 
The lack of discernable words, while somewhat disconcerting, also helps the listener relax and enjoy the music without focusing too much on what the words mean. And the music itself speaks volumes - as the band have created the most epic sonic landscape I've heard since listening to Pink Floyd. Like any good band, Sigur Ros exploit spaces in music to the full advantage.The first track on the album, Ég anda starts with a haunting violin and vocal and the music builds slowly until the singing finally starts at about 3.20 into the song. And that is great example of how the rest of the album flows, with the music and vocals are both very predominant, yet never overpowering
Although it's still early days yet, a few songs stand out. 'Dauðalogn' is also another great piece of music, starting off with the sounds of falling rain, and merging seamlessly into a lush, ethereal song which could almost put you to sleep. The title track 'Valtari' starts of sounding like an entire symphony mixed with a bunch of clicking noises which is then mixed with piano and drums to create an amazing instrumental. And then there is the final track 'Fjogur Piano', which could quite possibly be my favourite in the album if the rest of it wasn't so stunning. This song starts off played on one piano very slowly, and then another one is added a few bars ahead or behind of the first - I can't really tell. Either way it sounds incredible as it is both clashing with and contrasting with the first and it creates the most beautiful texture. Makes me want to learn piano even more, even if just to be able to play that one song. And when the violins come in, it almost makes you cry with how beautiful it all is. 

This album never ceases to amaze me with its incredible contrasts. It is both extremely heady, and yet very relaxing. The music is filled with emotion, yet it is easily something you can just listen too without having to take to pieces. The singing is both confusing in that it lacks a discernible language and hauntingly beautiful simply because of that fact. 

In a world full of musicians repeating the same tried-and-trued approach to music, it is refreshing and inspiring to come across a band this original and complex in it's ideas. And it is with that thought in mind that I come to the conclusion that I can never write a good enough review of this cd. Instead, all I ask is that you wait till sometime late at night, plug in some decent headphones, and listen to at least three tracks from this album in a row. The only real way to review Valtari is to have it playing in your ears.

And then leave a comment for me about what you think about Sigur Ros. Do you like what they're doing? How does their music make you feel? Is it your cup of tea?

Because personally, I'm already a huge fan.

Blessings,

Jordan