sigur rós - með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
EMI Records - XLED 364 - 24 June 2008
By Jack Deming
Since their inception, Icelanders Sigur Rós have long wavered with one foot wading in musical obscurity and the other rooted in an enigmatic melodic familiarity that soothes and pleases the ears. The result is a band known to multitudes that, with their exquisite brand of ambient post rock, still manages to maintain an air of mystique. Now with the release of arguably their most mainstream album yet, the question of how this will affect the essence of the band is one held by many.
Noticeable at first glance is the title,
með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, meaning "with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly", an almost gaudy moniker when compared with previous more minimalist titles like
Takk,
Von, or
(), the untitled album. Musically,
með suð is not a subtle change of pace for Sigur Rós by any means. The album opens with
Gobbledigook, a song that is by far the most uptempo and upbeat that the band has ever produced, and my personal favorite of
með suð. The beat is quick and driving, the vocals are draped with interspersed madrigal-esque "lalala's", and the music video features a group of Icelandic people frolicking ass naked through the woods, a fitting visual for the music. The next three tracks have a similar sense of frivolity and at times some slight shades of grandeur. This trend quickly subsides however, leaving the listener with a slightly more subdued listen for the remainder of
með suð, however not before
'Festival', the token 'heavy' song of the album.
Festival' hearkens back to the likes of
Untitled #8 and
'Glósóli', as it exemplifies Sigur Rós' unusual mastery of dynamics. This band has a way of forming a crescendo with such aplomb that one hardly notices the increasing buildup until the music has violently burst with pent up energy. Vocalist Jónsi Birgisson also delivers his best performance of the album, his smooth, wavering vibrato matching well with the ambient swells of the underlying minimalistic soundscape.
Previous works,
Takk and
Von in particular, defy description specifically with respect to the flow of the albums, where the band seems to be on wavelengths indistinguishable and impossible to categorize, shifting in intensity and feeling. On other efforts the band took a more defined approach, resulting in the four 'melodic' and four 'heavy' songs on
(), and now with
með suð following a subtle format as well. Whether or not the band intended for the album to present in this way is unclear, but
með suð becomes noticeably more subdued with each passing track, beginning with the euphoric
'Gobbledigook', and taking a slower turn four tracks later with
'Festival', and closing with the lullaby-esque
All Alright, their first lyrical foray into the English language.
Each effort put forth by Sigur Rós since their debut has offered a unique listening experience, and
með suð is no different. Sigur Rós have never been an optimistic band per se, but that is the feeling that one gets at the conclusion of their latest effort, more so than any other. Hope and contentment are conveyed on this musical vessel, and mission accomplished I say.
Official Sigur Rós Website
Official Sigur Rós Myspace
Official EMI Records Website
