A Return to: Sigur Ros

It's been over eight months since I last listened to Sigur Ros. I first discovered them in 2006 through a medium which delivered to me most of my most beloved bands to date: Camilla's Intellectual Property hour on C4. Yaknow, back when C4 actually produced some quality programming.

It was the video for Glosoli. To understate the experience, it had an impact: the concept, the sound, the imagery and ideas all struck with an such an originality. I had always thought such imagination was strictly contained within the realm of Classical music and Opera. I had my introduction to pop music mostly through 1990s grunge - and had little knowledge of 70s and 80s avant-garde experimental music and 21st century indie - so was rightly baffled by what pop was now gifting me. It was gorgeousness on a level I dared not think possible.

I always knew that pop could be fucking awesome, it could be moving and inspriational, it could be simply fun... but I had never even imagined it could be so beautiful. I suppose the Arcade Fire's debut Funeral first taught me this lesson, but that was a rock album still which for the most part kept within the limits of the modern song structure. Sigur Ros seemed so wonderfully light and open, as though the music existed in the air around us and the band somehow trapped it into six minute epiphanies.

But, as I said, it has been eight months. I was severely put off the band late last year, and the bursting emotion within the music has made it difficult for me to return. I found the courage to show my Uncle their DVD Heima whilst in Canada, and during the screening I remember telling myself that despite my minor disillusion with them, such beautiful music will always have a place in me, somewhere. Nonetheless, it was still a hard ninety minutes.

I have returned to the phenomenal 2005 album Takk this afternoon, and I was right... it's been there waiting for me. It sparked all the usual thoughts and emotions that made me so happy when I first heard them. It even exploited my shallow vein of pretentiousness! :

'Pfft, Beirut is just Sigur Ros for dummies'

There is so much hype about this sound, and that sound these days, it is impossible for anybody to keep up. I'm sure all these latest-shit bands that change Pitchfork's musical palette every week may sound cool now, but they won't in thirty years. It the midst of this maelstrom it comforts me to know that our generation still enjoys music that will never date. Don't be fooled by Fleet Foxes or the Ruby Suns... bands as these produce quality, enjoyable music but they are not the gospel they are marketed to be by a music press struggling for relevancy. Please go and listen to Takk... or Ágætis Byrjun and see what I mean. Because, Sigur Ros have shown me the light again.

Like This? Try This:

• The Dirty Three - The Dirty Three
• God is an Astronaut - All is Violent, All is Bright
• The Album Leaf - In a Safe Place
  
• Efterklang - Parades
• The Arcade Fire - Funeral
• Mogwai - Mr. Beast