Sigur Ros; Hvarf/Heim (EMI) BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2007

 |   |  <1 min read

Sigur Ros: Von
Sigur Ros; Hvarf/Heim (EMI) BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2007

More mysterious loveliness on a double-disc which, in the release schedule of most bands, might have seemed like a stop-gap measure: previously unreleased tracks and rarities, and stripped-back versions of other material.

If Eric Clapton or the Arctic Monkeys had done this you'd be yawning.

But Sigur Ros from Iceland create such eerie sonic landscapes -- some stretching to an 10 engrossing minutes -- that this has the feel of yet another beguiling chapter in a story you hope will never end.

Sigur Ros have, quite literally, created their own language (Hopelandic they call it) and make the music -- which owes very little to rock, even post-rock -- to match it. Enchanting.

And if it didn't appear in too many other lists of "best albums" it is because I believe too many other writers gave a cursory listen or looke dat the cover and took it to be that stop-gap thing.

Good Lord, a hiatus should always be this good.

By the way, the doco-DVD Heima which is the companion to this double disc is a gem.

Best music DVD of the year? Very likely.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

RECOMMENDED RECORD: Mel Parsons: Slow Burn (Cape Road Recordings/digital outlets)

RECOMMENDED RECORD: Mel Parsons: Slow Burn (Cape Road Recordings/digital outlets)

From time to time Elsewhere will single out a recent release we recommend on vinyl, like this which comes in a gatefold sleeve with lyrics. Check out Elsewhere's other Recommended Record picks... > Read more

BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2010 Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses: Junky Star (Lost Highway)

BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2010 Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses: Junky Star (Lost Highway)

The name "Ryan Bingham" has been getting a lot of eartime recently -- it was the name of George Clooney's character in the movie Up in the Air. But more importantly in the real world... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Copenhagen, Denmark: Walking off the art

Copenhagen, Denmark: Walking off the art

Make no mistake, this art stuff can really take it out of you. It can get your step-rate up, the wind in your face and your aorta working overtime. Especially if you're in Copenhagen and... > Read more

The Replacements: Tim (1985)

The Replacements: Tim (1985)

The swaggering, often drunk Replacements hold such a firm place in many people's affections that singling out just one of their eight studio albums for attention is bound to irritate someone. Maybe... > Read more