Album Review: Sigur Ros - Valtari

12 June 2012 | 11:08 am | Brendan Telford

Sigur Rós have created their own universe that no one will ever be able to emulate, and Valtari is an elegiac entry into that world, one that will stand the test of time.

Otherworldly Icelandic band Sigur Rós are one of a kind. Ever since they released their debut Von back in 1997, the five-piece have been entrancing audiences with their epic, sonorous soundscapes, capped with lead singer Jonsi's spectral vocals, at times constructed within a made-up language called Hopelandic. Despite some recent ventures into more up-beat fare, they return to more sombre realms on their latest, Valtari, dusting off some of their most renowned sonic alchemy whilst showing off some new, hitherto undiscovered wonders.

One thing of note is that the band has for the most part foregone their trademark song template of building towards a cathartic crescendo that has elevated their music to a level hitherto unforeseen. It is only present on the thundering drums and choral majesty of Varuo, which immediately makes the track a stand-out. That said, this exploration of the more sombre valleys and troughs within the Sigur Rós universe is by no means a run-of-the-mill fare. Opening track Eg anda is so nondescript that its elegant ambience is upon you before you are aware of its existence. Rembihnutur offers all the vocal and instrumental acrobatics that we have come to expect, whilst Varoeldur is not too dissimilar in its gossamer intricacy and beauty to Vaka, one of the many amazing tracks off their () album of 2005.

Overall Valtari is an album of nuance, intimacy and tenderness. The detractors who claim to have heard it all before are missing the point. Sigur Rós have created their own universe that no one will ever be able to emulate, and Valtari is an elegiac entry into that world, one that will stand the test of time.