Ágætis byrjun - Sigur Rós

Tracklist:

1. Intro (1:36)
2. Svefn-g-englar (10:04)
3. Starálfur (6:46)
4. Flugufrelsarinn (7:48)
5. Ný batterí (8:06)
6. Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm) (7:08)
7. Viðrar vel til loftárása (10:13)
8. Olsen Olsen (8:03)
9. Ágætis byrjun (7:39)
10.Avalon (4:01)

Members

- Jón Þór Birgisson (Jonsi) – vocals, guitar
- Kjartan Sveinsson – keyboard
- Georg Hólm – bass
- Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson – drums


Sigur Ros is a band from Iceland which plays a peculiar brand of post-rock. Some of their best known work has more in common with chamber pop and indie rock than with the gloomy landscapes and apocalyptic nature of post-rock. They are also experts in creating extremely moving and soulful songs, some of which have brought me very close to tears with their pure nostalgic beauty. Ágaetis Byrjun is the second album by Sigur Ros and it is the first one I had the privilege to listen to and it contains some of the best material the band has ever released, as well as some of their most awe-inspiring compositions.

This album is very difficult to explain: its music has to be felt and experienced. Sigur Ros has created in Ágaetis Byrjun some of the purest, most beautiful songs of our times. The album is also a musical statement; the band uses new techniques for creating atmosphere and experimenting with unusual structures and sounds. The extent to which they push the limits of the guitar to discover new possibilities is fascinating. Jonsi does this mainly by playing it with a cello bow, which is a signature style the band uses in most of their tracks.

The sensation of being in an unknown musical territory starts with the first song and never leaves the listener. Svefn-G-Englar is a long atmospheric piece that goes through many moods, but never leaving its beautiful tranquility. In the background we listen to the beautiful sound of Jonsi’s guitar being played with the cello bow. This has different effects on each track, sometimes providing a noisy sound and a dark tone, and others, like here, creating a harmonic atmosphere, as if listening to the sounds of waterfalls. 

Svefn-G-Englar seamlessly flows, as if it were a river, until it reaches the gorgeous ocean that is Starálfur. Listening to Starálfur for the first time is an experience that I wish I could have over and over again. An absolutely gorgeous song that takes you into an emotional journey in its short length that makes it one, if not my favorite track among this series of challenging and complex compositions. If there is one track that you should listen from this album, even if it is one of the less sophisticated and innovative on it, it is this one.

The tracks that follow are more in the experimental side of the spectrum. Flugufrelsarinn, another personal favorite, the mixture of synth and guitar sounds create a captivating atmosphere that keeps the listener in constant expectation. The extremely emotional chorus meets those expectations with Jonsi giving one of his best vocal performances in the album. Ný Batterí is the darkest song in the album, featuring a repetitive mesmerizing bass line accompanied by atmospheric guitar sounds produced by the cello bow and a brass section. The drums then become prominent and the song builds up until it explodes into an amazing climax that makes it the heaviest song here

The album gives a very pleasant surprise in Hjartad Hamast (Bamm Bamm Bamm), which features an uncanny folk sound and jazzy rhythms uncommon in Sigur Ros’s catalogue, as well as a harmonica, an unconventional instrument for them. Jonsi’s voice is also in a tone that is closer to a whisper than actual singing in the verses, which only adds to the uniqueness of this track among Sigur Ros’s material. It took me a while to appreciate this song as it is so different from anything else from the band, but it actually is one of the most daring and emotional songs here, having a wonderful chorus and a brilliant string section.

Vidrar Vel Til Loftárása is the center piece of the album, not only is it the longest track, but it is also the one that produces the most varied series of emotions here. The general tone is one of melancholy, but I have found myself feeling very confused while listening to it, as I couldn’t really understand the whole spectrum of things I was feeling at the same time. This is one of those songs that will leave you speechless and unable to do anything for some minutes, just to process the masterpiece of a song your ears have just listened to. A song that has to be experienced in all its glory, as words can do very little to explain its effect.

Olsen Olsen is the only song in the album not sung in Icelandic, but in vonlenska, the invented language Sigur Ros uses in some of its tracks. It is a language just made to fit the music, and it works really well in this cheerful track, probably the only one which is centered on just one emotion: happiness. Sometimes I can’t do anything but smile while listening to this song, it produces such pure feelings of bliss and joy. The ending climax makes me want to be part of the background chorus, singing along with the band playing their beautiful melodies; it is a perfect ending for another outstanding and touching composition.

Ágaetis Byrjun is maybe the simplest track in the album, even more so than Starálfur, it is a simple piano driven song, which features an acoustic guitars and jazzy drums. The title track serves as a more laid back composition in contrast to the rest of the album; it gives the listener a sense of closure and homeliness. Jonsi uses his signature falsetto tone throughout this song, always reaching the right note, making it a treat from the vocal standpoint, with the whole band creating the perfect accompaniment for it. It is a fitting epilogue to an outstanding piece of art.

Sigur Ros’s sophomore album is their most consistent one, showcasing their darkest moments as well as some of their most hopeful and innocent melodies. It is a unique experience, with sounds that are sometimes unidentifiable for the listener. I could only describe it as an otherworldly journey, a magical trip through galaxies of sounds unknown. With this album Sigur Ros started being recognized by critics, and their music slowly became more and more popular. The notoriety they have achieved throughout the years is a very rare feat for a band of this nature. The current popularity of the band shows they were right when choosing the title for this album: it was indeed A Good Beginning.