Sigur Rós’ eighth studio album was released in 2023. I ordered the album from the website of the band, and when I got it months later I felt disappointed. Sure, it looks great, but I just wasn’t impressed with the songs. Now that I’ve heard it again, it is starting to grow on me. I guess this is one of those albums that doesn’t share the love instantly.
This album is another result of the Covid pandemic. Keyboard player Kjartan Sveinsson had left the band in 2013, but he returned in 2022. He and singer Jónsi Birgisson got together when Sveinsson was visiting him in Los Angeles. They started the first writing together, and pretty soon there was an album. After Kveikur and Valtari I think the band kind of lost their way. I’ve seen them a couple of times during that time, and frankly, wasn’t impressed. I have to see if I want to see them again, but I do admit, this album sounds great again.
This record itself is colourless, which is really special. It is like putting a piece of glass on the turntable.
