SIGUR ROS Agaetis Byrjun 2xLP Mum Bjork Apparat Fat Cat
$
110
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Description
SIGUR ROS – Agaetis Byrjun double LP
(FatCat Records, 2000)
This sophomore effort from Icelandic quartet Sigur Ros appeared on numerous year-end “Best Of” lists in 2000, despite not receiving an official release in the United States until the following year. This album was originally released in Iceland on Bad Taste in 1999, and received UK distribution on Fat Cat in 2000. The official United States release did not come until 2001. I pre-ordered this double LP from Fat Cat Records mailorder in August 2000.
Reykjavík-based noise quartet Sigur Ros are the biggest band in their native Iceland, which should say much, much more about the collective insanity of that earthquake-ridden, blizzard-beaten crag of an island than anything to do with Sigur Ros's sound. But in their music, Sigur Ros reflect all the breathtaking glory of the Icelandic wastes--a fairy-tale explosion of unhinged elemental majesty that's finally crystallized here, their debut European release. Poised somewhere between the haunting soundscapes of Labradford and the lilting Celtic falsetto of Enya, Agaetis Byrjun is a truly breathtaking listen. Frontman Jon Por Birgisson sings in a language that Sigur Ros dub "Hopelandic"--an otherworldly mutation of Icelandic, sung in the falsetto cadence of angels; similarly, he plays his guitar with a violin bow, opening the floodgates for brilliant waves of feedback. And while it's the opening "Svefn-G-Englar" that's Sigur Ros's moment to date, there's far more that they have to offer; listen to the pomp and flourish of a full orchestra on "Flugufrelsarinn," or the awe-inspiring near-religious mantra of "Ny Batteri."
Sigur Ros first came to light in 1994 when they cropped up alongside Bjork, Unun and other Icelandic independent artists on a compilation celebrating 50 years of Icelandic independence from Denmark. Still called Victory Rose (the English translation of Sigur Ros, itself a variant on Jonsi's sister name Sigurros), they were fronted by the then 17 year old Jonsi, and went on to record ‘Von’, which in 1998 spawned a No.1 single, ‘Leit Af Lifi’, and saw them voted the country’s Brightest Hope. Sigur Ros began recording ‘Agaetis Byrjun’ in Summer 1998 at Reykjavik’s Studio Sasyrland with Ken Thomas, who had previously worked with the Sugarcubes. It was released in Iceland on Smekkleysa last June, and slowly climbed to the top of the chart, where it resolutely remained. At the Icelandic music awards last December Sigur Ros and ‘Agaetis Byrjun’ were voted Band and Album of the Year respectively, and Jonsi both Best Vocalist and Guitarist. The group first met Alex and Dave from FatCat early last Spring when the pair were over DJing for a major GusGus show in Reykjavik, at which Sigur Ros were supporting. Following the UK release of the two FatCat EPs, Sigur Ros have played sell-out UK shows at the Union Chapel, Astoria and with Godspeed You Black Emperor! at the Royal Festival Hall. They also headlined the Labradford-organized Festival of Drifting with dates up and down the country.
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