subject: Sigur Ros - Inspiring Music You Can Sense [print this page] Sigur Ros - Inspiring Music You Can Sense
Some may wonder why I am talking about a band on an art and design blog. Sigur Ros are a band from Iceland who I have admired greatly for the past few years. I have consumed most of their output which is a fusion blend of many styles but most importantly native Scandinavian folk music with current progressive rock. The reason I am discussing them on the Almond blog is because, to me, their music is a synesthesia which conjures various feelings at once.
With a fairly slow but ultra-high quality output since their album Von in 1997 the band have quickly risen to become one of the most respected and adored bands on the planet but this seems quite an unexpected sensation to someone who liked them in their early stages when they were still relatively unknown. They have followed their own path which is inspirational in itself and it would be revealed they always had a 'take it or leave it' mentality which would either have seen them consigned to the bargain basement bin near the world music section or climb the stratospheric heights which, in reality, has been their story.
Examples of this 'we are who we are' strutting can be listened to on the follow up EP, to their masterpiece album Agaetis byrjun from 1999, called Rimur which they released in 2001. The EP contains a fisherman from Iceland reciting poetry and was packaged in a uncomplicated black and white paper case. Agaetis also had a killer cover which was a biro pen drawing of a foetus with angel's wings. The ethereal nature of the music was perfectly captured by this stark but beautiful image.
Following on from these two pieces and the original Von album they released an untitled album in 2002 then Takk in 2005. Recently they have made a movie and another album before taking a break to embark on solo projects and take a rest.
