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Sigur Ros - “Gobbledigook”

I don’t know how much of an introduction is needed for a band like Sigur Ros, so I’ll keep this brief: they’re an Icelandic band, they never sing in English, their music is most immediately classified as ethereal post-rock, and they do not suck.

This afternoon, Sigur Ros released the first track from their upcoming album Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust, and it’s called “Gobbledigook”. The track features plenty of hand-clapping, tribal drumming, and draws immediate comparisons to early Animal Collective. If the rest of the album lives up to the promise in this song, then expect to see this album on every worthwhile “best of” list come December.

The track is available for free from the band’s official page

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Mew - Eight Flew Over One Was Destroyed

For some, Mew is a tough act it take. Falsetto vocals crooning over dense, distorted, polyrhythmic tracks, all in the scope of a through-composed concept album may seem daunting for even the most seasoned music fan.

For me, Mew represents everything I’d ever wanted in a band. They sound like nothing else on the planet, put on an incredible live show, and truly understand and respect their craft.

This is taken off of their 2003 Danish release “Frengers” (not quite friends, not quite strangers) which was re-released for the US in 2007. Their most recent release “And The Glass Handed Kites” brought them acclaim in the states, but  their buzz has diminished quite a bit since heading back to Denmark to record.

It makes no sense hearing Mew in a vacuum, so head on over to their MySpace and check out Snow Brigade, et al.

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Sigur Ros - Untitled #4

Has anyone been to this festival?  I’ve never been, but my image of Iceland consists of perfect, chilly days, out of this world landscapes and natural formations, and stunning women.  If you have, tell me about it.