Sigur Ros Goes Double Disc
And it turns out to be 70 minutes of awe.
Sigur Ros
Hvarf/Heim
Released on Nov 30, -0001
Sigur Ros could put Nyquil out of business, give a warm glass of milk a run for it's money and make all parents throw away those spinning baby mobiles and become the best form of a sleep aid in the world with their lush and calming atmospheric music. When something isn't broke, don't fix it, and with the release of Hvarf/Heim, Sigur Ros stays true to form. Hvarf/Heim is a double disc 70-minute set that is best suited for serious fans and not a first time listener of the band. The first EP, Hvarf ("disappeared"), contains five tracks that were unrecorded, unreleased, or completely altered. The second EP, Heim ("home"), contains six live acoustic songs from the band's previous studio albums.
Like I said, if you've never heard Sigur Ros, this isn't the album to start with. Pick up ( ) or Takk, the most popular and accessible albums in their catalog. But if you are a fan of the sweeping fairy tale like music that Sigur Ros produces, I highly recommend picking up Hvarf/Heim. Hearing some of of their standout songs acoustically give the tracks a whole new dimension. "Staralfur" sounds even more bittersweet than the original recording, and the true talent of Sigur Ros shines on this track and others on Heim. The EP shows a band that sounds just as powerful acoustically as they do electronically, a task most artist can't match up to when playing their music stripped down. Heim doesn't sound like a watered down b-side recordings - all the songs sound like a completely fresh take on an original.
Sigur Ros' music isn't for everyone. It's very long (the average track playing out around 7 minutes), and there is a lot of movement before you can reach the climax of the song. But the beauty of Sigur Ros is in the dedication and devotion one song takes to get to the part of the song where the whole sound truly shimmers and explodes in some of the most heartbreaking and moving music created. Live it is even more mesmerizing and moving, and I'll be the first to admit that their concert moved me to tears during a couple of songs. Hvarf/Heim is a great album to add to an existing catalog of Sigur Ros, giving the world 70 minutes of a sonic way to escape. Now, time to turn the speakers up, turn the lights low and let the Icelandic foursome take me away.
High Point
Low Point
Posted by Lisa White on Nov 08, 2007 @ 12:00 am