Sigur Ros: Inni (XL CD/DVD)

Among the many delightful things about Sigur Ros -- the ethereal Icelandic quartet which sings in some made up language -- is you don't need to bother yourself with song titles. Their music is a sonic texture of electronics and plaintive vocals which slides past with a deliberate detachment but a sense of the epic.

This double live CD set was recorded at London's Alexandra Palace in late 2008, after which the band put itself on hold. (Singer Jonsi released a solo album Go in 2010).

So this is like a career summary of arguably the most successful and interesting post-rock band of the past decade, but also acts as an effective introduction to them, especially as it comes with a 75 minute DVD shot at the shows directed by Vincent Morisset (who did Arcade Fire's terrific Miroir Noir) and shot by Rob Hardy which is intercut with other footage (notably an awkward radio interview where the band members seem effectively mute, and small club gigs in '98 and '99).

The black'n'white live images are appropriately washed out and grainy, slewing between the abstract, Expressionism and the impressionistic, and at times looking like the Cure's Seventeen Seconds and Faith album covers come to life.

Sigur Ros were something rare and special and if they have somehow eluded you then after this it is straight to their superb Hvarf/Heim of 2007 which came with a wonderful DVD doco.

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