already in the recordings: the first time was also produced outside of Iceland, in London, New York - and also in Cuba also has this time also worked with the orchestra and choir (!)..
The music is at times more cheerful now, and also closer to the actually existing pop music ("closer" is of course relative).
so sounds the first single "Gobbledigook", a child-like playful, cheerful hopsende song sketch, as something that lives in the immediate vicinity of the Flaming Lips. "Inni mer ... whatnot" is very pop, dream-way and on the edge of that field grown, grows so luxuriantly on the Coldplay. "Godan daginn" is very gentle, like a breath of wind, halfway to children lullaby, alternative folk meets a church choir.
"Vid spilum eddalaust" has a hitmelodie, would kill for Coldplay or Radiohead, but so firmly anchored by organ-bass that is not mainstream, it can be carried away. "Festival" is in every way the central point: slowly emerged from the song on the organ fog, mysterious, hypnotic pulsing wins on contours and fades slowly. masterfully! "Med sud i eyrum" is then essentially a dancing piano, very pastoral and easily.
"Ara Batur" is the emotional highlight of the album: Piano and Voice accompany each other through a pained, deeply moving melody, the dark increasingly urging from the light - the number rises to an art exhibition with a large orchestra and choir. "Illgresi" is typical change, then quite delicate folk with quiet squeaky guitar. "Fljótavík" is like chamber music, with a verhuschten piano, dreamy strings, mellotron and as an instrument guided falsetto - classic Sigur Ros.
it will follow the faint rustling "straumnes" and the extremely economical set, starkly impressionistic "all alright" whose English text (still a novelty!) is also much better understood than the Icelandic.
great as always improvised, but precisely because focused, burning live-take atmosphere. fascinating: to opulence the exchange of barrenness and back.
I think: this is the best Sigur ros-album so far. I feel: "()" came my heart even closer - it is even more urgent, more vital, more passionately. but this is now a very personal opinion.
