Review - Sigur Ros - Kveikur

‘Kveikur’, the seventh album by Icelandic alternative/ambient band Sigur Ros seems to have come out of nowhere. Usually fans wait three or more years between releases, but not this time. Their last album was released in May 2012 – just over one year ago.

When I first noticed this fact, I figured that ‘Kveikur’ was a collection of songs that didn’t make it for ‘Valtari’; a “part two” if you will. I would have loved nothing more – ‘Valtari’ was easy-going and beautiful, and who doesn’t need more of that?

Much to the surprise and glee of the Sigur Ros fan, ‘Kveikur’ immediately makes a point to set itself apart from the band’s body of work. In place of simply beauty we find power and a sense of strength. To say that a group like Sigur Ros has upped the experimentation is quite the assessment, and it’s true.

Don’t be afraid – the CD’s makers are unmistakable, but it is good to see them stretching their sound into new places. Lead singer Jonsi’s vocals aren’t quite as ethereal and they don’t soar like they used to, but this doesn’t mean he’s lost it.

Everything comes back together on the final track – “Var” – a heartbreakingly simple and beautiful piano piece. Sigur Ros always deliver one piece worthy of scoring a tragic love scene per album, and it never fails.

Listen to: “Var”, “Brennisteinn” – the lead single and album opener that tastes of prog rock.