Sigur Rós - “Við spilum endalaust” (A Take Away Show)

Tuneage loves Take Away Shows, and we love Sigur Rós, so this was impossible to pass up.

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Sigur Rós - “Inní mér syngur vitleysingur” (Within me a lunatic sings)

So, everyone’s had a chance to listen to the new Sigur Rós album, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, now — it’s been streamable for a few weeks, and was finally released this week — and if it’s not one of the best albums you’ve heard this year, then there’s something wrong with you.

I won’t get too in-depth here; Sigur Rós need no introduction, and the album isn’t a huge departure from their usual sound. However, it is, perhaps, a little more accessible and digestible than their previous releases (only two songs go too far past the 5-minute mark, for one), without losing the vibrant, emotional energy they’re known for.

“Inní mér syngur vitleysingur” (Within me a lunatic sings) is the second track off the album, and one of the highlights. It embodies everything I love about Sigur Rós, containing all the signature elements — horns, glockenspiels, and the finely-crafted build up to a magnificent crescendo — without being too indulgent, in one of the best 4 minutes of music you’ll hear today.

Stream Sigur Ros' New Album at Last.fm

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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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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.