Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim
This is the double album accompaniment to the Heima movie. The first disc, Hvarf, contains re-recorded versions of songs which would have spanned their history to this point. The second disc, Heim, is a collection of live tracks from 2006 and 2007.
Salka, the first track on Hvarf, is delicate post rock with choral overtones and an extremely clean sound. Hjomalind sees the band venturing more into stadium rock territory, with a slight Radiohead influence. I Gaer is epic, mixing the light, airy and magical with the dark and powerful. It makes great use of light and shade. Hafsol starts off moodily with bowed guitar before climaxing joyously and gloriously. This disc is more stripped back than some of their other albums but it is no less cinematic. Sigur Ros prove here that they are still masters of evoking moods, imagery and emotions.
As always, Jonsi's vocals are distinct and unusual but his ethereal falsetto provides much of this emotion.
The Heim disc is beautiful. Samskeyti and Agaetis Byrjun are gorgeous piano led tracks whilst the string laden Staralfur is similarly beautiful and romantic. The recordings on this disc are closer in sound to the epic 'Takk' which would have been their most recent studio album at this time. This is another winner from this amazingly consistent band.
No comments:
Post a Comment