Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust - Sigur Ros Album Review

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Album Review

Straight in at number 6 on the album charts (w/c 30 June).

If there was ever a time I understood another language, Icelandic, then this is it.

It was only November 2007 that geeky Icelandic troubadours Sigur Ros released the double masterpiece Hvarf /Heim to critical acclaim.

This time, they go, in a Sigur Ros way, for a mainstream attack, though their eccentricity still emerges with the translation of the album's title.

For the first time, (as far as I'm aware), there are two song titles in English which is a bit of an indicator. We mustn't get the idea they're 'selling out' by any means. Its predecessor was a magnificent and time consuming opus. Now things are a tad simpler, and maybe after 14 years together, they want to reach a bigger audience, which will hopefully, not alienate their cult following. Whereas in the past they've created awesome ambient and occasionally passionate ambling beauties well over the 5 minute mark, they've broken the mould slightly with this one. Of course we get the penchant falsettos and soaring melodies, without them it simply wouldn't be Sigur Ros. They have in the past self-indulged with their own language - Vonlenska which hasn't always helped matters. So they declared that the lyrics would be "more understandable to the public than on previous albums." Mhh. Anyway, language barriers aside, Med Sud... is still a joyous listening experience much like Takk (2005) and Heima and Hvarf-Heim (2007). Somewhere along the line they've learnt to bend their rules and reach out more. The clanging tribal intro percussion of Gobbledigook is a sign. It's then boosted by rushing acoustic guitar and Jonsi Birigsson's whispful falsetto, making quite an impact. Surely Coldplay must have had an influence on thrusting and jangly Inni Mer...and could be mistaken for something off their earlier albums, though the pomp and ceremony ending stamps it as distinctly Sigur Ros. There's an angelic whip-up and keyboard tinkling a la Chris Martin, only better. Back in their comfort zone, the gentle and often celestial Gooan Daginn (shades of U2's gentler moments) drifts by almost unnoticed, whereas uplifting Vio Spilum.. reverts back to Coldplay territory and as close as they get to a pop song at just over three minutes, Med Sud is pretty close too, a rarity for them. Festival has an early Sunday morning 'church' feel, with again Birigsson's choirboy like falsetto at full throttle accompanied by an organ up to nearly five minutes until a throbbing build up explodes into a massive crescendo, tailing off at 9 minutes into a solo whistle. Ara Batur is an epic in the end, featuring a 67 piece orchestra and London Oratory School Schola, but the build up is classic Sigur Ros. Comparatively, the next four, including closer All Alright, are low key affairs that bring everything to a smouldering ember.

File under : More diversity. Not as good as its predecessor.

Elly Roberts