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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
music from the edge of the world, November 8, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Ágætis Byrjun (Agaetis Byrjun) (Audio CD)
What do you hear on this CD? Soaring melodies, an enchanting falsetto voice singing about things that you know must be important (but not a word in English), radio static, sonar pings, phase shifted notes from an accordion?, feedback from a bowed guitar, a volcano rumbling?, primal roars from ancient beasts (or it just the bass part?)... When conventional arrangements of drums, bass, guitar and keyboard are used to back some catchy tunes, you're reminded that this is "popular music". Just not like anything else on the pop charts today. If the Beatles had access to synthesizers while they were making Sgt. Pepper, and only released the more interesting, experimental pieces, maybe it would have sounded something like this. With all the praise being heaped on Sigur Ros, you may wonder if this music is really deep and profound. Not the way Beethoven's late piano sonatas are. Is is brilliant, edging toward genius? Yes. Is it fun? YES. Listen and expand your musical horizons to the edge of the world.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Dreamy And Sensuous Journey Into The Heart, September 25, 2000
This review is from: Ágætis Byrjun (Agaetis Byrjun) (Audio CD)
The title of this review may appear to be pretentious and contrived to one who has not yet experienced Sigur Ros' new album, AGAETIS BYRJUN. But in truth, this is the closest approximation that language provides one in which to describe this breathtakingly beautiful album. Too often in our world, words such as love, beautiful, and brilliant get thrown around like dirty laundry rather than savored and used only to express their true meanings. We deprive our language of its effect through our careless abuse of the only adjectives we have to describe the pen-ultimate. But, if there ever was an album that deserved to be called "breathtakingly beautiful," then this is it. Pressed for a description of Sigur Ros' intoxicating blend of melody and sound, Liquid Dreams is the phrase that most succinctly interprets this beauty into English. Yes, Sigur Ros' are from Iceland. No, they do not write or sing in English. But that may be the most astounding thing about this album: the feeling of the music completely transcends all language barriers. AGAETIS BYRJUN is proof in the argument that music is the universal language. The unique mix of the traditional instruments in modern music (guitar, bass, drums, keyboard) with the new (processed noises, feedback, distortion, white noise, reverb) and even the antiquated (orchestra, chamber music, chorale pieces) - all this - makes for a listen that is unlike anything you have experienced before. It may harken references to classical, free-form jazz, pop, prog-rock, etc..., but Sigur Ros are none of these things. Their unconventional blend of texture and style are best exemplified on tracks like the dreamy and subtle "Avalon," the delightfully smooth "Staralfur," and most of all during the excellent "Hjartad Hamast (Bamm Bamm Bamm)." It is on this track that Sigur Ros' textural beauty is most affectingly showcased. Strings glide and swell, while processed guitars whistle and whirr over tape loops and humming rhythms... all to climax in a buzzing, orgasmic chorus filled with heart-ache. It is on this track that Sigur Ros prove just how musically important they are. They are incomparable. They are in a playing field all their own. No one is even approaching this type of musical expression in the current music scene. I don't believe that anyone ever has. Key elements to the Sigur Ros sound are, as mentioned above, instrumentation and style, but - for the first time in a good while - the singer's voice plays a truly vital role in enhancing and creating the music. Jon Por Birgisson's vocal croons, swoons, yelps, and dazzling falsetto are used less to express words, and more to emote. In fact, as beautiful as the music is, his voice, in all its feminine grandieur, may eclipse it all. One listen to his voice on songs such as "Staralfur," or "Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa" and listeners will be swept into another plane. In truth, "otherworldly" may be a better adjective to describe the sensual experience of this album. Soon to be released in the U.S. (it exists as an import only, at the moment) AGAETIS BYRJUN is the perfect musical vision to open the new millenium... full of possibility, ingenuity, and above all, hope for the beauty of things to come.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My God, this is good! Words fail me!, August 23, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Ágætis Byrjun (Agaetis Byrjun) (Audio CD)
This is definetly one of the best albums ever released. Hearing is beliveing. This in Sigur Rós' third album, but their first internationally released album. This album was first released in June of 1999 in Iceland and has been, more or less on the top ten ever since. Their music is a perfect mixture (bet you get a dejá-vu) og Godspeed you black emperor!, Mogwai and Spiritualized. All of these song are so achingly beautiful, so fragile and yet lurks an awesome power underneath. The music highlight of the album is, without a doubt the 10-minute epic "Vidrar vel til loftárása" (Good weather for airstrikes). This is a must-buy and a must-have in any good record collection. This is one album that can stay in your CD player for years to come.
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