Review: Sigur Rós, Sæglópur

Sæglópur is a fleeting experience, but one which resonates.

Sigur Rós, SæglópurSo much of Sigur Rós’s music is best consumed in intense, contemplative sittings that it seems wholly appropriate for the band to continue releasing EPs at a feverish pace in lieu of cranking out proper full-length albums. Sæglópur, which draws its title from the Takk … track of the same name (also appearing here), is a fleeting experience, but one which resonates. Leading off with the heavenly, cacophonous album cut, the remaining three previously unreleased songs are standard issue Sigur Rós, which is to say that “Refur” is soft, sweet, and ethereal, while “O Fridur” is sprawling and atmospheric, with the reflective ambiance of “Kafari” closing out the EP in an intimate fashion. In addition to the four songs, a DVD containing videos for “Sæglópur,” “Glosoli,” and “Hoppipolla” rounds out the package. Nothing here breaks rank with what this iconoclastic Icelandic group has wrought to date and if you’ve turned up your nose at the quartet’s previous trio of releases, Sæglópur certainly won’t convert you.

Score: 
 Label: Filter U.S.  Release Date: August 8, 2006  Buy: Amazon

Preston Jones

Preston Jones is a Dallas-based writer who spent a decade as the pop music critic for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. His writing has also appeared in the New York Observer, The Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, and other publications.

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