Sigur Rós - 'Innà mér syngur vitleysingur'
Post categories: Reviews
| 13:57 UK time, Monday, 1 September 2008
Seeing as Sigur Rós' new single starts as if an announcement is about to be made, it is only fitting that I start this review with one. Well, not an announcement as such, more of a, err, confession. So okay, here goes: I'm sorry to say it, but Sigur Rós bring out a Very Bad Side to me. You see, normally I am a share-y sort of person, especially when it comes to music, but the moment the band's 'Hoppipolla' was used on THAT 'Planet Earth' advert, and then THAT 'FA Cup Final' coverage, and then THAT 'Children of Men' movie, and then - well, you get the picture - after all this, I felt a bit sick.
There. I said it. You see, without meaning to sound like a Massive Hippy, Sigur Rós are the sort of band that are pretty personal. They are the sort of band that you listen to on your own, the sort of band you dream to... Okay, now I sound like a free spirit of the highest form.
So, anyway, in a bid to get myself over this horrific bout of Sigur-selfishness, I agreed to review their new single.* Its therapy. Or something.
'Innà mér syngur vitleysingur' is different in many ways to both the Sigur Rós the nation heard endlessly on the Beeb last year, and the Sigur Rós that has spanned four previous albums. It still feels epic, it still feels uplifting, but this song is far more uptempo and accessible.
Indeed, 'Inni Mer...' has more of an indie-pop structure than much of Sigur Rós' signature sweeping, soaring sounds and, whilst there'll be those who say it sounds far too commercial, let's be honest: it's not like Sigur Rós have suddenly gone so pop it's all sigur-sigur-AH.
Oh no. This song is delicate; it is summery and wonderfully positive: it builds and builds - using singer Jón þor Birgisson's distinctive voice to its full potential as it does so - and never enters into over-dramatic territory. Sigur Rós have managed to capture their out-of-this-world sound and contain it in a truly beautiful, somewhat mortal form. Quite simply, they are testing their music and pushing it forward. And trust me, music this good cannot be hoarded.
Woah. Backtrack. What did I just say?! It would seem that, over the course of this review, I have been cured of my inner-Sigur selfish tendencies. And whilst 'it's good to talk', I think that in actual fact, Sigur Rós' new single, 'Inni Mer...', cured me all by itself.
CD Released: September 8th
*Okay, that's a lie too. It's sort of, err, because I didn't want anyone else to review them...
(Vicki Lutas)
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