The immense Sigur Rós return with thanks to their fans (Takk is Icelandic for thank you!). This band is famed for its unusual sound; mixing Icelandic folk with progressive rock with easy listening, and Takk... is no exception. Yet another collection of life-affirming tunes to uplift, to sadden, to provoke, but most of all to give hope. Beauty, unfortunately, is a rare quality in music today. Sigur Rós are part of that dying breed which manages to capture beauty within intelligent music. That's why this is my album of 2005; that's why it must be heard.
1. Takk...(Thank You...): The title track and opener falls just short of two minutes but gets you in exactly the mood for the album - it's a warm, tranquil progressive piece produced mainly on keyboard, and is just how you'd imagine the Icelandic landscape would sound.
2. Glósóli (Glowing Sole): A reluctant minor bass riff is joined by plodding drums and ghostly voices dripping with delay.
Xylophones add a twinkle to the tune as water can be heard trickling away in the background. Symphonic strings double Jónsi's voice for a short time, and eventually the track builds with ever louder drumming into a driving rock anthem with rising guitar screams.
3. Hoppípolla (Hopping Into Puddles): A thumping beat is soon set up by Orri and matched by a memorable vocal melody. Musically brilliant in structure and execution, with a gorgeous chord progression. Strings and brass offer a great climax to the song. Well chosen as a single.
4. Međ Blođnasir (I Have A Nosebleed): Floaty voices pummeled by a syncopated drum ostinato, merging later with strings. A short, calm instrumental break.
5. Sé lest (I See A Train): Another atmospheric piece, with underlying xylophone sequences. A cloud of voices, strings and drums builds and fades almost as quickly; this is followed by a pretty variation on the same tune as if played by a marching band.
6. Sæglópur (Lost At Sea): This track starts peacefully enough, with xylophones twinkling innocently behind a frail voice and staccato piano chords. The spell is banished when the drums kick in; a propulsive rhythm which pushes the vocals higher and higher into a beautiful swell. The song falls again towards the end, with plenty of feedback and strings.
7. Mílanó (Milan): One of the best examples of the genius of Sigur Rós is the epic Milano (10m25s). This gorgeous track is built around a single piano riff and yet maintains variety and interest throughout. The very long fade in eventually unmasks a piano, bass, and violin. These progress in a very minimalist style until them drums join them; at which point the piece accelerates to a euphoric chorus, which reappears later. You've got to hear it to believe it.
8. Gong (Gong): A short, cold string intro makes way for yet another top notch drum rhythm accompanied by a positively wintry guitar riff. Choruses are highlighted by additional strings and rising vocals. After the main part of the song, the guitar riff is replaced by a considerably brighter piano cell, and ends on a beautiful climax. Highly underrated.
9. Andvari (Andvari): A mellower moment with a stately tempo, and though it may sound simple it is infact a very clever song. Whilst the guitar plays arpeggios of only two chords, the bass moves in such a way that many more different keys are suggested. This track washes over you and ends with a glorious string arrangement.
10. Svo hljótt (So Quiet): Opens with a celesta and various other keyboard instruments. Jónsi's serene voice enters and before long is rising far above the crashing drums and guitars. A 'windy' song in every sense of the word.
11. Heysátan (Haystack): A sublime ending to a near-perfect album. This track is a great relaxant; its sparse texture and sometimes inevident pulse make for a raw but beautiful sound. Brass instrumentation adorns the vulnerable voice and calm piano. Bliss.
Make sure you hear this album. The immense happiness it has inspired in me means that it is worth more than the £20 some shops are asking for it. This collection of songs is so much more than simply that; it is an uplifting, heartwrenching, timeless document through which so much is said that cannot be expressed in words. That is the joy of Sigur Rós.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Many a critical evaluation of Icelandic quartet Sigur Rós has resorted to stock imagery of ... more
molten magma, omnipotent ice fields and burbling hot springs--and reasonably so. There's no disavowing the geophysical heartbeat which invigorates the very soul ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Many a critical evaluation of Icelandic quartet Sigur Rós has resorted to stock imagery of ... more
molten magma, omnipotent ice fields and burbling hot springs--and reasonably so. There's no disavowing the geophysical heartbeat which invigorates the very soul ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: All the good old Sigur Ros trademark sounds, with a little more mainstream influences Disadvantages: Takes more than one listen to really appreciate
cocoklo 29.11.2005 (29.11.2005)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Takk - Sigur Ros
Advantages: All the good old Sigur Ros trademark sounds, with a little more mainstream influences Disadvantages: Takes more than one listen to really appreciate
cocoklo 29.11.2005 (29.11.2005)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Takk - Sigur Ros
very helpful by (93%):
helpful by (7%):
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
