I don't know what attracted me to Sigur Rós. The bleak look of the CD cover? The Icelandic mystery? The fact that their CDs were £1 in the charity shop?
Even though a well known charity shop (no names, you know who you are) did succeed in selling me a Janet Jackson CD in a Sigur Rós case.
Can I get through this review without using the word 'ethereal'? Clearly not. Sven-G-Englar opens up, a beautiful piece whose ten minutes just fly by, then the lovely Starálfur with it's gentle piano and strings accompaniment. Similarly, Flugufrelsarinn is a gentle song, with a with an atmospheric feel. followed by Ný Batterí , which starts off slowly with an extended brass intro before a rousing blast from the Icelandic songsmiths. Hjartað Hamast has a very full sound, but doesn't have much to distinguish itself from what's gone before, and on this one, it does sound like they're trying to do too much. Viðrar Vel Til Loftárása restores the balance, a long, flowing song, with Olsen Olsen continuing the mood. However, the title track Ágætis Byrjun feels a bit limp and the falsetto vocals don't really do anything for me, the album ending with the minimal drone Avalon.
I do like this album - it just has a gentle feel, and is an easy listen, even if nothing groundbreaking.
3* - a solid listen, nothing stands out as exceptionally good or bad.
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