Sigur Ros Appreciation Thread (or Post-Rock is sick)

[perverse]

Here I come with another one from left field...

I've been listening to Sigur Ros' entire discography lately. incredible sounds...

for anyone interested in something a bit different - here is some ambient, minimalist post-rock dream pop.

Sigur Ros - Glosoli (Heima) [Live]
Sigur Ros - Popplagid (Heima) [Live]
Sigur Ros - Staralfur (Heima) [Live]

note that he sings in Finnish (and sometimes "Hopelandish" - a language they made up... essentially he uses his vocals purely for instrumental sound at times). I've chosen recording from their DVD Heima, as i think they just came out absolutely incredible... some of the best live stuff i've ever heard. I love the way the singer plays his guitar with a bowstring at times, too... creates a very cool sound. make sure you listen to the entire songs, they often build up slowly into a crescendo/climax.

easily some of the most beautiful music i've ever heard... and beauty is the word for it. in fact, beauty doesn't do it justice in some cases. Staralfur is incredibly enchanting.

 

[Rod]

I found out about these guys from the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou soundtrack of all places, and haven't looked back since. Absolutely incredible music.

Even though I'm a fan of a lot of bands there are only a few that give me chills every time, these guys are one of them.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Here I come with another one from left field...

I've been listening to Sigur Ros' entire discography lately. incredible sounds...

for anyone interested in something a bit different - here is some ambient, minimalist post-rock dream pop.

Sigur Ros - Glosoli (Heima) [Live]
Sigur Ros - Popplagid (Heima) [Live]
Sigur Ros - Staralfur (Heima) [Live]

note that he sings in Finnish (and sometimes "Hopelandish" - a language they made up... essentially he uses his vocals purely for instrumental sound at times). I've chosen recording from their DVD Heima, as i think they just came out absolutely incredible... some of the best live stuff i've ever heard. I love the way the singer plays his guitar with a bowstring at times, too... creates a very cool sound. make sure you listen to the entire songs, they often build up slowly into a crescendo/climax.

easily some of the most beautiful music i've ever heard... and beauty is the word for it. in fact, beauty doesn't do it justice in some cases. Staralfur is incredibly enchanting.

Icelandic. ;-)

Without doubt in my top three favourite artists/bands of all time. The only dilemma is which album?

Those three tracks are from the album 'Takk' for those interested. Probably their most accessible album. Even if you've never heard them directly, a lot of their songs are featured in TV and documentaries. Even Cup Finals and other sporting events too. Unfortunately there are also a lot of tight-arsed companies who steal 3/4's of a bar of their music to use in advertising. But then again, imitation is the best form of flattery I guess.

http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/media/homage-or-fromage.php

I had the pleasure of seeing them live a few years ago, only travelling in-time to see the Beatles could top it.

 

[gUt]

I heard some of their stuff early on and I made it a point to seek them out but when I tried to listen to an album I couldn't get thru it. Too much wall of sound, too much same-samey tones etc, plus the language barrier is an issue. Not saying they aren't a great band, but they were a let down to me personally.

 

[perverse]

Yeah, i like quite a wide range of music - wider than most, but these guys are just on an other planet. it's like epic from another dimension.

just like to add that in my first post i said they were finnish, but actually are, in fact, icelandic. (and in the time i wrote this post, someone corrected me, thank you).

the Heima DVD is absolutely sensational and incredible. basically on a Tour of Iceland they decided to play these 5 free and unannounced shows in the middle of nowhere, just to whoever turned up in some of the most remote, strange locations. mostly just a private little concert for the townsfolk. they recorded them (extremely well, i might add) and made the DVD from the experience. they also played a couple of other, bigger shows on the Tour (which are also included on the DVD). the emotion and thought they put into these tiny niche performances just blew my mind.. so exquisite. these guys are true artists... doing what they do for the sake of the music and the artform.

and i don't at all find the language barrier an issue, in fact i think it adds to the mystique of their sound, it wouldn't be proper to know the lyrics in my mind.

also, only one of the songs i posted is from "Takk..." - that being Glosoli. Staralfur is from "Agaetus Byrjun", Popplagid is from "()".

 

[Rod]

Haha there are some pretty blatant rip-offs in that link.

Agaetis Byrjun is the best album for mine but it's very close.

Still need to watch Heima one of these days, haven't got round to watching it yet.

Lyrics aren't super important to me anyway unless they're particularly awesome or particularly shit so I'm not worried about the unintelligble lyrics. I agree about the mystique point perv, it would be quite weird with English lyrics.

 

[Meanie]

Popplagid is actually from () and is the song that got me right into them. I saw them live back in 2006, best gig I've ever been too, the intensity of the experience was something else.

Another post rock band I'm big on is Mono, I'd recommend the album "You Are There".

 

[perverse]

Still need to watch Heima one of these days, haven't got round to watching it yet.

oh, you have to see it. the Heima editions of their work are probably my favourite. live music has amazing life to it, and this is certianly no different.

Lyrics aren't super important to me anyway unless they're particularly awesome or particularly shit so I'm not worried about the unintelligble lyrics. I agree about the mystique point perv, it would be quite weird with English lyrics.

agreed, depending on genre. this music in particular... well, i much prefer to have my own interpretation of what the music means, and the fact that these guys write songs (or even entire albums) in a language that doesn't exist is a testament to that. i wouldn't really want pre-defined concepts attached to such provocative and emotive sound.

 

[perverse]

Popplagid is actually from () and is the song that got me right into them. I saw them live back in 2006, best gig I've ever been too, the intensity of the experience was something else.

extremely jelly. they've been on hiatus for a fair while now. i'll sell a body part to see them live if they come to Aus.

Another post rock band I'm big on is Mono, I'd recommend the album "You Are There".

will have to scope it!

 

[CC_Eagle]

Haha there are some pretty blatant rip-offs in that link.

Agaetis Byrjun is the best album for mine but it's very close.

Still need to watch Heima one of these days, haven't got round to watching it yet.

Lyrics aren't super important to me anyway unless they're particularly awesome or particularly shit so I'm not worried about the unintelligble lyrics. I agree about the mystique point perv, it would be quite weird with English lyrics.

Buy it as soon as you get a spare minute.

Brilliant, brilliant DVD. As perverse said, the sheer spontaneity combined with the eerie and stunning surrounding landscape is absolutely incredible. Recorded on HD as well, put it on a decent TV and surround sound and I guarantee it wont leave your DVD player for months.

The language barrier in music doesn't worry me. I like a lot of bands/artists who sing in a foreign language. Personally, I'm more musical than lyrical and like Perverse, it adds to their "mystique" Their ( ) album is entirely sung in Hopelandish - the language 'created' by the band. Which allows all listeners to create their own meaning for each song. Even the leaflet within the CD is blank. Every song is sung using the same phrase "You xylo. You xylo no fi lo. You so", but obviously with changing melodies for each song. If you're after a different album, I highly recommend ( ).

 

[CC_Eagle]

extremely jelly. they've been on hiatus for a fair while now. i'll sell a body part to see them live if they come to Aus.

will have to scope it!

You'd be happy to know that they re-entered the studio during Spring.

Whether it's merely rehearsals or writing is unknown though.

 

[perverse]

yeah, you can't say "brilliant" enough about the DVD, really. all the Icelandic scenery, thoughts from the band... and just the amazing settings they played some of the sets in and whatnot. it's just amazing, i sat and watched the entire thing in total wonder for the most part.

more than that, and it's probably the case with most of their shows, but they really give their live prformances in this DVD their all, everything they have... in some of the songs you can just see the music cutting deep into the lead, like the tour meant a lot to them. sublime.

 

[perverse]

You'd be happy to know that they re-entered the studio during Spring.

Whether it's merely rehearsals or writing is unknown though.

this is good news, i don't mind what they're doing, as long as it's something.

 

[CC_Eagle]

this is good news, i don't mind what they're doing, as long as it's something.

True that.

Although I didn't mind Jonsi's solo album. It's totally different to Sigur Ros's stuff, which is the purpose of a solo album I guess. Worthy of a listen if you haven't already.

 

[Flapper]

Slint's "Spiderland" album is some pretty epic post-rock if you wanna explore

 

[Liam]

Anyone heard of the Magyar Posse? When I saw Finnish in the OP it made me think of them, not conventional post-rock but then again, post-rock isn't a very conventional genre.

Whirlpool of Terror and Tension
Popzag
Intercontinental Hustle

 

[gUt]

I had never heard of post-rock before this thread. Turns out I like a few post-rock groups: Battles, Isis, Cult of Luna. Thanks for listening.

 

[Adsy]

Didn't take you for a post-rocker, Pervy.

Assuming you know the works of Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky and Battles?

 

[CC_Eagle]

I was waiting for someone to mention Mogwai - also a very decent band.

Had the pleasure of seeing them in 2009. Very easy to not notice the lack of vocals.

 

[Adsy]

Wish I was seeing them at Splendour (Mogwai that is).