Customer Reviews

Von

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a huge fan of 1960s-1970s European psychedelic and progressive rock, "Berlin School" electronica, and American minimalism, I was delighted with this 1997 debut from Icelanders Sigur Ros. Stylistically, this album fuses elements of electronica, minimalism, the European avant-garde, and ambient styles (especially Brian Eno) with rock, and exhibits a level of studio wizardry that is vaguely reminiscent of psychedelic rock groups such as Pink Floyd during the 1967-1969 period.

The overall mood of Von is windswept and grey, haunting, and at times, pretty creepy. A good example of the creepiness is provided by the heavily echoed "screams from outer space" on the 9'46" opening track (Sigur Ros), briefly at the end of Hun Jord, and on Syndir Guos. Interestingly, those screams made the hairs stand on the back of my neck just as readily as the bloodcurdling screams on "Careful with that Axe Eugene" (Pink Floyd, 1968). There are gloomy, brooding vocal parts scattered throughout the recording, although they do not comprise a large part of the compositions. Interestingly, the lyrics were written in a fabricated language called "Hopelandic" - the French band Magma (chamber progressive) did something similar in the early-mid 1970s in a language called "Kobaian".

It is worth noting that the heavy opening of Hun Jord (complete with distorted guitar played at a crushing volume), the beautifully sad Myrkur, the title track Von, and Syndir Guos, in addition to the last few minutes of the final track Aukrym (albeit with backwards recorded parts) are the only pieces that resemble "songs", and for the most part, the pieces are instrumental and very lengthy. Although there are breaks here and there, musical themes are restated at various points throughout the album, creating a single larger work.

Instrumentation is somewhat sparse, and electronic experimentation conducted primarily on synthesizers (possibly guitar synthesizers as well) dominate the aural landscape. Brief passages of electric guitar (heavily distorted in addition to clean tones) and acoustic guitar are present during the conventional "songs", in addition to bass guitar, drums, and very interesting percussion parts.

In contrast to a lot of ambient recordings, which exhibit only extremely subtle permutations in musical themes within a given piece, Von is sprinkled with variations in tone and timbre, and displays use of both experimental and found sounds. This variability, coupled with the combination of vocal and experimental passages, in addition to the stark dynamic contrasts between the spacier passages and the heavy, "rocking" sections makes Von a very interesting recording.

This debut album is recommended to those people that don't mind experimental approaches to rock music and are not put off by the absence of traditional song structure. In fact, I highly recommend this album to fellow progheads that are desperately looking for excellent music in the current prog scene.

Further discussion of the band is provided on the Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock website - unfortunately it has not been updated.

This is my absolute favorite Sigur Ros album, even though it sounds nothing like what they sound like today. For the most part, it is ambient soundscapes with dark noises bubbling to the surface. Also, the vocals are so far back in the mix, you can't tell what he's saying and they sound like another instrument. Yes, people have been saying that about Agaetis Byrjum, but on Von, they're pushed even further.

To be honest, there are about 5 actual songs on here. The rest are soundscapes and weird noises. The 1st track alone is 10 minutes of minimal electronica. The only song here that reminded me of the later stuff is the title track. Very beatiful, slow, and full of things that will make your heart melt.

Fans of () and Agaetis Bryjum probably aren't going to like this. But if you dig amibient electronic music, you'll like this. For fans of Aphex Twin and My Bloody Valentine.

I agree that this album is not for everybody. Alot of Von deals in spacy atmospheres and there is very little music in the strictest sense. However, it warrants at least a run through for most people, especially those interested in Sigur Ros. (Hint: This album is alot like the BABA/TIKI/DIDO EP, if you didn't like that, you probably won't enjoy this very much.) But anywho, onto the songs.

"Sigur Ros" opens the album with a series of shrieks and unnerving sounds. It really sets the tone for the rest of the album. It is followed by the beautiful "Dogun," a very spacy song featuring a beginning that will take you away. "Hun Jord" is an album highlight. It was the first song I ever heard from this album, and afterwards I knew I had to hear more. (btw, forgive my neglect to use Icelandic characters in my typing) A little further down the stretch we come to "Myrkur," which is a truly fascinating tune that takes the angelic choruses of "Hun Jord" to a more fast paced level. "Hafssol" is an extensive track but is very interesting. The song's length hints at what will come on later Sigur Ros albums, particularly ( ). "Von" is a great song, another highlight. "Syndir Guds" is also great and a great end (kind of) to the album.

In closing, this is a very exclusive album. Those looking for the more structured music of "Ageatis" or the orchestral backings of ( ) will probably be dissapointed. Remember to expect nothing when it comes to Von, because there is alot to be discovered.

Highlights: Hun Jord, Myrkur, Von
Lowlights: Verold Ny Og Od, Mistur, 18 sekundur fyrir solaruppras (which is basically 18 seconds of silence)

Unlike Sigur Ros's later efforts, Von doesn't demand your attention or emotional involvement at all times. This could be construed as good or bad, depending on your tastes. It is mostly comprised of atmospheric soundscapes and noise experimentation, and there is very little in the way of structured songs. These soothing ambient passages are actually quite pleasant, but don't expect a very engaging listening experiance.

However, those structured songs found on this album are extremely good. "Hun Jorth" (spelled phoenetically because I am too lazy to open the character map) is just as intense and emotional as anything on the ( ) album. I would place this among my all time favorite Sigur Ros songs. "Myrkur" is the most straightforward rock song I've heard from this band; moody but also in a positive, uplifting way. "Von" is the first Sigur Ros song sung in the gibberish language jokingly named "Hopelandic" by the band, after this song, which is Icelandic for "Hope." "Von" is very introspective and calm as well. "Syndir Guths" appears to be the inspiration for "Olsen Olsen" as it is in a similar style and even contains the exact same drumbeat.

Supposedly, before they were subjected to the tortures of studio experimentation, more of these songs were structured and easier to follow. Anyone who has heard the live version of "Haffsol" can attest that it barely resembles its studio counterpart in any way. Whether this is good or bad is up to you to decide, but I urge you not to judge this album by how it compares to Agaetis Byrjun and ( ). It is most deffinitly an entirely different animal, beautiful and serene. If you are comfortable with this, I recommend this CD purchase.

this has to be my personal favorite sigur ros album, () is hands down their best put together, but this is one of those albums that is great for listening to late at night when your lying in bed unable to sleep. the ambience is beyond discreet, barely any of the tracks can actually be considered "Songs", more like atmospheric sounds and noise (and screams) this album is more considerably on an ep scale for its "song" production, as there only about 5-6 tracks that could be considered under that category.

If your looking for a cd to pop in the car trip or while your hangin with your buddies, than look elsewhere, if your diehard expecting something more along the melodic lines of Agaetis Byrjun (my least favorite) look elsewhere as well, but if you want something for the headphones to lay back and blast off into space with, than this is the album for you.

Well, first off, I'd like to compliment my predecessor in his ability to dig. I agree that Von demonstrates highly Sigur Ros' growth as a band, but in quite the opposite way. I'll explain. Von is actually the band's debut album (not to be nitpicky); it just hasn't been released in the States until recently. Every time I tried to get my hands on it via an Icelandic website of sorts, I found the overseas price a bit intimidating. Though, in my attempt to keep up with the music scene I am constantly in check to see if Sigur Ros is planning on putting out any new albums, going on tours, etc. In my search I found out that Von was being released right here in my own home country. Fantastic. I finally get to hear the original work of, in my opinion, one of today's best and most brilliant bands. I put my order in a month early. Finally my CD arrives. I respectfully open the package, hold it high above my head, and a perfect beam of light shines down on it from the heavens. I put it in my CD player. The first song has an interesting, almost medieval, feel to it. Dead Can Dance starts echoing through my head. As the CD progresses I am less and less enthralled by the difference I hear on the album. I find I'm hearing more sound effects than I am music. As the tracks dawdle on amidst sounds of people walking, children playing, etc, I wait and wait for the music to slide into place, setting the scene for an aural journey similar to that of, hm, let's say...()? or maybe Agaetis byrjun? I will say, however, when the members of Sigur Ros do decide to pick up their instruments they don't disappoint. Jonsi's vocals are a bit underused perhaps, but you pick your battles. My expectations are a bit lower for a debut album, perhaps that's why I can nod and smile afterward, just don't look for an Agaetis clone here. Look more for...noise? ooorrr everyday sounds? maybe...the sound of your hard-earned cash flittering away into the abyss? There are a few gems, but the ratio is a bit too small for me. That said, lose no respect for these guys. Like I mentioned before, the album is quite a testament to where they've come. Presently, this quartet is contributing to the world some of the most gorgeous, climactic, and, well, perfect music it has ever heard. However, in the case of unseasoned Sigur Ros fans, I'd recommend taking my word for it when it comes to Von. To the others, maybe it's worth a listen. Maybe it's better to have heard and lost than never to have heard at all...for 20 bucks.

Take Loveless (my bloody valentine), add in Amnesiac (Radiohead) and a little modern classical music (I suggest Black Angels by George Crumb), and you get Von. This is more the soundtrack to your worst nightmare, you know, the one with the flesh eating teddy bears and that evil cheshire cat from Alice. But nowhere in this album does it even sound remotely similar to Sigur Ros' other albums.

Like (), the album is split into two halfs. This time, however, the split is more monumental-there's an 18 second intermission of pure silence. Trust me, you'll need every last milisecond before you plunge into the brooding second half.

The album begins with some kind of hellish ritual, with some kind of percussive glass, demonic laughter and agonized screams. More than music, it sounds like the effects to a movie about the apocalypse. After 9:47 minutes of intense fear, you are thrown into some sublime chorus. Still no discernable melody, but a welcome release from the satanic imagry. About 2:30 minutes into Dogun, the album's second track, we're back to creepy atmosphere.

In fact, there's no tune until Hun Jora (3), and in comparison, it sounds like some rock tune from heaven. Sigur Ros breaks out the electric guitars and jams through to the intermission in music that all but shouts "Loveless!"

The second half is much less interesting, sounding a bit more like the dull () than the first. The epic 12:00 Hafssol is very unique and brooding, and actually referrences the later "Olsen Olsen". However, I can't help but feel the album falls apart at Von, which sounds a bit too much like sappy acoustic/synth new age music.

The second half has it's moments though. Syndir Guos features an agonizing scream at a perfect G# which makes up the melody with the bass in a truly original moment. However, even this gets old after 7:42 with a repetitive "Olsen Olsen" bass line. This is followed by nearly 5:00 of complete silence, which is more of a joke than a calm moment.

If you like creepy ambience, I would highly recommend this album. The first half more than makes up for the bizarre second half, bringing it up to 4 stars.

When upon listening to this album, I releazied that it is the opposite demeanor of the other albums Sigur Ros have made. There is ambient soundscapes of the otherworldly, to bright and heavenly, peaceful and powerfull music.
If you became a fan of Sigur Ros from the other albums ( "()", "Tak..", "Agaetis byrjun" ) You will probably dislike this. But don't let the first song disrupt your ideas about the artists.
Despite how different it all sounded compared to the other albums, I still greatly charish this one. So if your a fan of ambience and Sigur Ros, this is a must buy. If you're not, however, you might want to try Agaetis byrjun or Takk first.

The casual fans might as well not buy this, because you'll probably complain how it doesn't sound like "Agaetis Byrjun" and the ambient filler will probably bore you to death. And then I'll have to read some review about how it wasn't "like that song on 'Vanilla Sky'" and how you wasted your money. Well, let me do you a favor by not wasting your money, and let me do myself a favor by not reading some inanely stupid review.

No, this is not a new Sigur Rós album; it is their debut album finally being released in the U.S. The most memorable songs are "Hun Jord," "Myrkur," and "Von," with "Syndir Gufs" being a good runner up. The rest are--and were intended to be--ambient filler. It sounds like they took an EP's worth of material and expanded it out to be a full album. It's still good, though, as I enjoy Sigur Rós' ambient collection, and I think this album is well worth checking out for serious fans. For everyone else, if you buy it, just keep things into perspective: this is nothing like their last two studio albums.

I would have to say this album isn't quite as good as Ágaetis Byrjun or ( ). It's very experimental and ambient. If you're a Sigur Rós fan, buy this album. You will not be disappointed. It's completely different then their most recent albums, but you can still feel how they have evolved as a band through this album. The album starts out with an eerie 9 minute track of just ambient sounds. It then leads into a few songs that sound the most like songs on Ágaetis Byrjun, but they are still nothing like the songs on that album. The highlight of the album for me is the title track Von. It's a very sad and emotional song with very airy sounding vocals. If you don't have any Sigur Rós and you're thinking about buying an album of theirs, I recommend you buy Ágaetis Byrjun before Von. I think the sheer emotion and feeling behind that album will make you respect them that much more. But by all means, if you like Sigur Rós, buy this album. It's well worth the money.