Album review: Sigur Rós, Kveikur (XL)

 

Andy Gill
Thursday 13 June 2013 15:56 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Kveikur finds Sigur Rós in more forceful and declamatory mood than usual, a shift heralded by the explosion that ushers in the heavy guitar riff and juddering bass of “Brennisteinn”.

It's an album packed with Wordsworthian sturm und drang. The arrangement of “Yfirboro” is a bubbling cauldron of musical magma, within which Jonsi's voice appears as a keening and emotive soul, while on the title track, his most compelling pop vocal melody is hostage to a swirling maelstrom of rugged bass and rumbling drums. Elsewhere, “Hrafntinna” stands out from a striking sequence, the sibilant clang of metal prefacing its majestic progress to a sombre horn conclusion, before “Var” brings the album to a close on a slow but typically moving piano progression.

Download: Yfirboro; Kveikur; Hrafntinna; Var

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in