¿¿g¿¿tis Byrjun

by Sigur Ros

Overview

Two years passed since Sigur Ros' debut. By this time, the band recruited in a new keyboardist by the name of Kjartan Sveinsson and it seems to have done nothing but take the band to an even higher state of self-awareness. Even on aesthetic matters, Sigur Ros entitle their sophomore effort not in a manner to play up the irony of high expectations (a la the Stone Roses' Second Coming), but in a modest realization. This second album -- Agaetis Byrjun -- translates roughly to Good Start. So as talented as Von might have been, this time out is probably even more worthy of dramatic debut expectations. Indeed, Agaetis Byrjun pulls no punches from the start. After an introduction just this side of one of the aforementioned Stone Roses' backward beauties, the album pumps in the morning mist with "Sven-G-Englar" -- a song of such accomplished gorgeousness that one wonders why such a tiny country as Iceland can musically outperform entire continents in just a few short minutes. The rest of this full-length follows such similar quality. Extremely deep strings underpin falsetto wails from the mournfully epic ("Vidjar Vel Tl Loftarasa") to the unreservedly cinematic ("Avalon"). One will constantly be waiting to hear what fascinating turns such complex musicianship will take at a moment's notice. At its best, the album seems to accomplish everything lagging post-shoegazers like Spiritualized or Chapterhouse once promised. However, at its worst, the album sometimes slides into an almost overkill of sonic structures. Take "Hjartadj Hamast (Bamm Bamm Bamm)," for instance: there are so many layers of heavy strings, dense atmospherics, and fading vocals that it becomes an ineffectual mess of styles over style. As expected, though, the band's keen sense of Sturm und Drang is mostly contained within an elegant scope of melodies for the remainder of this follow-up. Rarely has a sophomore effort sounded this thick and surprising. Which means that "Good Start" might as well become of the most charming understatements to come out of a band in years. ~ Dean Carlson

Product Details

Release Date:	12/17/2021
Label:	Krunk
UPC:	0190296805387
Rank:	714

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sigur Ros   Primary Artist
Samuel Jon Samuelsson   Brass
Jonsi   Vocals
Kristjan Kristjansson   Harp
Jon Þor Birgisson   Vocals
Alafosskor   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Snorri Sigurdarson   Brass
Þordis Gerdjur Jonsdottir   Double Bass
Valgerdur Olafsdottir   Violin
Georg Holm   Guitar (Bass)
Petur Hallgrimsson   Slide Guitar
Maria Huld Markan Sigfusdottir   Violin
Solrun Sumarlidjadottir   Cello
Hildur Arsaelsdottir   Violin
Snorri Siguroarson   Brass

Technical Credits

Birgir Jon Birgisson   Mixing,Engineer
Jon Þor Birgisson   Composer
Valgerdur Olafsdottir   Composer
Arni & Kinski   Video Director
Ken Thomas   Producer,Engineer
Georg Holm   Composer
Sigur Ros   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Orri Pall DyRason   Composer
Hjoertur Svavarsson   Engineer
Agust AEvar Gunnarsson   Composer
Kjartan Sveinsson   Mixing,Composer,Mixing Assistant
Maria Huld Markan Sigfusdottir   Composer
Solrun Sumarlidjadottir   Composer
Hildur Arsaelsdottir   Composer
Ted Jensen   Mastering