( )

Amazon.com
Are Iceland’s Sigur Rós the saviors of 21st-century rock or true heirs to the silk-robed-and-platform-booted, pompous progressive rock of the '70s? On their third album (first for a major label), they are a little bit of both. The group continues to mix the most interesting aspects of U2 (the anthem), Low (the maximalist slow-mo thing), Radiohead (the utter lack of irony in the quest to make meaningful art for stadium crowds), and My Bloody Valentine (guitar as texture), while not sounding like anyone else on this planet. The average song length on the eight untitled tracks is eight minutes, with cascades of moaning, bowed guitars colliding with low-end keyboards while the lovely, alien-registered vocals of singer Jónsi float on top. Dynamics are employed spectacularly, but half of the album is spooky soundtrack music that never really goes anywhere. However, the actual songs on Two Sausages Kissing (or whatever you want to call it)--the third, sixth, eighth, and especially fourth tracks--are mind-blowers, spectacularly worth the price of admission. If they just stopped trying to reinvent the wheel all the time, Sigur Rós could really be a band for the ages. --Mike McGonigal

( ),Sigur Rós,Mca,Ambient Pop,Chamber Pop,Iceland,Pop,Post-Rock/Experimental,Rock,Rock/Pop,Space Rock

---

Average customer rating: Fantastic Doesn't Begin To Describe It Amazing MASTERPIECE I just don't know.... This album just "takk"s to me...

Takk... Sigur Rós Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Ambient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Space Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: ( ) Ágætis Byrjun Z Plans The Campfire Headphase ASIN: B000AJJNPY Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. Takk
2. Glosoli
3. Hoppipolla
4. Meo Blodnasir
5. Se Lest
6. Saeglopur
7. Milano
8. Gong
9. Andvari
10. Svo Hljott
11. Heysatan

Amazon.com

Just when this Icelandic crew seemed stuck in loud/soft/loud/ soft rut a la Mogwai or Godspeed You Black Emperor, they release their most beguiling, subtle and beautiful album yet. This album, allegedly the group's first sung in Icelandic rather than their own made-up "Hopelandic" (not that this listener could tell the difference) is relentlessly joyous, unaffectedly rad and inventive but never just for its own sake. Strings hold an ever more prominent place in the music, and this is a good thing. Songs unfold slowly as usual, but they take unexpected turns as often as not. The brilliant "Glósóli" burbles with as much melodic invention and anything by their fellow Icelanders Mum. Takk is a delight from start to finish, managing to be both their most accessible and experimental album yet. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Doesn't Begin To Describe It.......2007-07-08

Sigur Rós has done it again, and we the collective fanbase are wondering just what it is about that windswept barren rock that is Iceland that inspires the generation of ridiculously great music.

There seems to be a burgeoning dichotomy of taste with their music. People who like the albums ( ) and Von tend not to embrace albums like Agætis Byrjun quite so readily, and vice versa. Those whose do like Agætis Byrjun are the ones who will love this latest work.

I can't find a track on here that I don't like. The pieces meld and flow together as if watching a liquid metal body spontaneously mutate into changing forms. A completely solid effort, though if I had had to choose one piece as the standout, it would be "Hoppípolla."

This is one of the ten best CD's I own.

Amazing.......2007-05-10

Really damn good, one of my favorite CD's. I only give it a 4, because it has to be compared to the previous release, Agaetis Byrjun, which is probably the best album thats been released in recent years.

MASTERPIECE.......2007-04-13

This album is one of those albums that resides in a very special place for me. It has consistently well produced tracks, mood and 'quality'. It really could be thought of as one epic tale/song; a myth long forgotten. It's like glacier exposing the soul of the Earth after the collapse of human civilization. With time, you come to appreciate the brilliant sonic subtleties: the textures, the changing tempo, the instrumentation. Sheer brilliance!

I just don't know...........2007-04-03

I know I am joining a dwindling minority when I speak against this band, but I just can't help myself. I own two Sigur Ros albums including this one and I have listened to them many times in attempt to understand why this band has such a sterling reputation, but I have failed to uncover this mystery.

It seems like in the writing process, Sigur Ros get in a huddle and say to themselves, 'Lets find the most beautiful sound we can and use it throughout the entire album.' I mean, the sounds this band can make are amazing, but there is absolutely no 'umph' nor meaning to this music as far as I can tell. Its like this band tries to recreate the sound you hear while stepping through heaven's gate, and succeed! But I do not want to remain at heaven's doorstep throughout an entire album. I want a band to take me into heaven and show me how it feels to live amongst the clouds, and walk on solid gold. There is very little variation in all of Sigur Ros works, and very little more than one long, but pretty droning sound. This album is like staring directly into the sun; its bright and overwhelming at first, but after a couple of minutes your eyes get tired of it, and block it out.

Personally, when I listen to music I want it to take me places. I want to expirence an aurol journey that lifts me off my feet with passion and energy, and Sigor Ros does not deliver. This band provides nothing more to me than a pleasant background noise. For the record, a little light/dark contrast goes a long way in music, and the same shining noise throughout an entire album is a good start, but gets stale and overdone very quickly. Just think how much brighter the light would be, mixed with a little bit of darkness! Think about how much more interesting the Sigur Ros concept would be with the slightest bit of contrast. Some will argue that there are dynamics throughout this album, and I will agree, but anyone can play music louder to create a cheesy sense of climax. Change is good! No change is boring.

To me, Sigur Ros lacks everything I look for in music: Contrast, direction, backbone and passion. If I were you I would check out Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Explosions in the Sky, and Pelican for music with personality.

This album just "takk"s to me..........2007-04-01

*siiiiiiiiiiiigh*
Remember back when albums were a sonically satisfying masterpiece of music and clever wordplay, generally tied together with some overall unifying theme and message? When the music really meant something and 'spoke' to you, even when you weren't engulfed in a purplish haze? No? That's probably because they stopped making music like that somewhere between the Moody Blues' epic "Days of Future Passed" and when whatever marketing genius signed Paris Hilton's record deal. They just stopped. That reason and the fact that if you've ever even heard of the band Sigur Rós and you're from the wrong side of the Atlantic, then it was probably by accident or because you were visited and blessed by some sort of musical angel set out to save the world from even still more Nirvana rip-off bands and flash-in-the-pan American I-dulls. In either of those cases, you owe it to yourself and humanity, now that you've happened upon the band and this, their magnum opus, to listen to "Takk..." a good thirty of forty times or until you start humming to yourself in Icelandic.

The band, Sigur Rós, is from the fairy-tale kingdom of Iceland, where genetically engineered-to-be-beautiful little Bjork-ettes frolic in the steamy mists of the natural hot springs...you could read about the band now, more and more, on discerning alterna-sites here and there...or just visit their homepage. But what you won't learn about them on the interweb is that they secretly and deliberately have been stealing all the best moves in music and concocting this album as a means to propel their mother Iceland to fabled musical-mecca status so that instead of English or Chinese the world will all want to speak their language. Don't fret if you don't already...you won't need to understand a word to understand what they're REALLY trying to say here. The lyric sheet basically translates into: "We're going to take over your heart, your scene, your country and then the world." I'm not afraid. Heil Sigur Rós!

File this one under "what every band in the world would love to accomplish." It's rock, it's classical, it's rap and country (except without so much of the rap or country) and a testament to mankind's ability to create and invent. I'd call it "ethereal" if I wanted to risk your running to the dictionary instead of to the record store first. Let's just say this album would be what could have happened if the Beatles lived on a funkier island, had cuter chicks to impress, and didn't just do it for the money. Yes, yes...and spoke icelandic.

Honestly, I probably couldn't tell you where one song starts and the other begins as the album's tracks have been fused together so artistically...But you'll be too busy kicking yourself for not having known about these guys earlier to be able to decide which is your favorite track. Assigning genre? Pointless. Just embrace it and accept it, guys. That cute girl with the hoodie and the ipod you always see on the way to work already has....girls? so has that sensitive, well dressed fella you've been meaning to give the time of day to. It's time to see what music has been doing while you were away.

Average customer rating: enigmatic

Kurr Amiina Manufacturer: Ever Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: We Can Create The Peel Session Animamina Screaming Masterpiece Under Giant Trees ASIN: B000PHX11S Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

1. Sogg
2. Rugla
3. Glamúr
4. Seoul
5. Lúpina
6. Hilli
7. Sexfaldur
8. Kolapot
9. Saga
10. Lóri
11. Bláfeldur
12. Boga

Amazon.com

Amiina not only sound like Arvo Pärt in a music box, they actually play a music box. It's among the thrift-store instruments the Icelandic quartet employs, which include wine glasses, bowed saws, antique synthesizers, and--yes, even the violins, viola, and cello that they originally started with. We've been hearing Amiina for a few years now, adding strings and additional quirkiness to the last few albums by fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós. While Sigur Rós work in epic electric dimensions, Amiina work in the delicate spaces of fragile sounds and folk refrains. On Kurr, their first full-length album, they manage to be quaint and exotic, like a modern vision set in a dusty portrait from the past. Amiina's mixture of classicism and humor owes a debt to the Penguin Café Orchestra. But while the late Simon Jeffe's outfit had the air of erudite wit and debonair grace, Amiina are cuter, musically and visually. Like kids in the attic, they exude a more innocent, yet exploratory charm. Whether plucking pastoral electric guitar lines and singing a schoolyard chant on "Rugla," bowing saws and tapping glockenspiels on "Seoul," or actually playing their classical strings, Amiina enchant like a peek inside an elven gathering under the roots of Yggdrasil. --John Diliberto

Album Description

Most music lovers first heard of Amiina due to their association with another Icelandic band called Sigur Ros. The girls started working with Sigur Ros in the mid 90's, resulting in their first shows with the band in 1999. The rest, of course, is history, as Amiina became the string players for all of Sigur Ros' subsequent tours and records.

Like the sound of cooing, aspects of Amiina's music flicker quietly and float softly, content and beautiful. Kurr is full of dazzling moments of that caliber, a wholly original work that is delicate, intricate and dream-like. Their music is genuinely so special, ineffably charming and infused with a sense of cosmic magic. It's certainly wielded that power on us.

Customer Reviews:

enigmatic.......2007-07-15

Amiina (formerly amína) is a quartet from Iceland comprised of:
María Huld Markan - violin
Hildur Ársælsdóttir - violin
Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir - viola
Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir - cello
They are best known for their work as Sigur Rós' string quartet on the album known as ( ), as well as Takk... and re-arranged the string work on Ágætis Byrjun so that Sigur Rós could tour it.
Kurr is an eclectic work of great beauty where the simplest sounds become a real basis for making music. The melodies are incredibly simple, both elcetronic ad percussive but they make up a distinct sound somewhat like the music of Rae Howell's Australian group Sunwrae.The overall effect is hypnotic as well as being part of a new minimalism coming out of Northern Europe and Iceland.This is their second release but the first in this minimalist style. Well recommended

Average customer rating: Wandering but Brilliant A good Sigur Ros album, but not the best Haunting and Beautiful Is this a joke? The majesty of winter...

( ) Sigur Rós Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Ágætis Byrjun Takk... Finally We Are No One Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven Svefn-G-Englar ASIN: B00006LLNU Release Date: 2002-10-29

Tracks:

1. Untitled 1
2. Untitled 2
3. Untitled 3
4. Untitled 4
5. Untitled 5
6. Untitled 6
7. Untitled 7
8. Untitled 8

Amazon.com

Are Iceland's Sigur Rós the saviors of 21st-century rock or true heirs to the silk-robed-and-platform-booted, pompous progressive rock of the '70s? On their third album (first for a major label), they are a little bit of both. The group continues to mix the most interesting aspects of U2 (the anthem), Low (the maximalist slow-mo thing), Radiohead (the utter lack of irony in the quest to make meaningful art for stadium crowds), and My Bloody Valentine (guitar as texture), while not sounding like anyone else on this planet. The average song length on the eight untitled tracks is eight minutes, with cascades of moaning, bowed guitars colliding with low-end keyboards while the lovely, alien-registered vocals of singer Jónsi float on top. Dynamics are employed spectacularly, but half of the album is spooky soundtrack music that never really goes anywhere. However, the actual songs on Two Sausages Kissing (or whatever you want to call it)--the third, sixth, eighth, and especially fourth tracks--are mind-blowers, spectacularly worth the price of admission. If they just stopped trying to reinvent the wheel all the time, Sigur Rós could really be a band for the ages. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Wandering but Brilliant.......2007-07-06

Sigur Ros' 2002 album has no real name, and all the songs are also untitled. There are no actual lyrics, all the vocals are in a nonexistent language. The booklet consists of several blank pages the band encourages listeners to write their thoughts in. Taken altogether, ( ) can seem kind of pretentious. It doesn't really matter though, it's about the music and it's pretty great.

( ) has two distinct parts, a light first half and a more intense second half. The first half is all about atmosphere. There's a lot of piano, especially in the third track which has a nice plunking tune, while the rest of it is more ambient pleasantness. They use distorted guitar to create texture instead of melody, and it's very dissimilar from the music you're probably used to hearing. It's best to not try and listen to it in quick bursts, and instead have it on when you're doing something else or just relaxing.

Where I think the album gets really interesting is the second half. It focuses on the build and release of tension, and with the time they take to get where they're going they can really create immensely enjoyable moments throughout. It takes them quite a while to get to the point, but once they get there it can be a transcendent listening experience. Some of it sounds like Radiohead at their spaciest, but Thom Yorke and company rarely get as climactic. The various songs can seem sort of similar in the way they work up to the big moments, but it doesn't make it less interesting or powerful. After the seventh track it seems like it's winding down, but before the final song ends it breaks into the hardest guitar you'll find on the record in a very satisfying conclusion.

The use of drums is much more important in the second half, as they set the intensity level almost by themselves, along with how passionate the vocalist sounds. Back to him, he's pretty good but I have a bit of an issue. Just because he's singing in a fake language doesn't mean it can't get repetitive. He sings what sounds phonetically like "You sigh on" or some close variation nearly constantly throughout the whole thing, and it can get irritating if you pay too much attention to him. It is this minor annoyance plus the very long amount of time it takes to get to the really good moments that keep the album from being truly excellent, in my mind. One could argue that the buildup makes the eventual payoff even sweeter, but I think it's still an imperfect way to make music.

A good Sigur Ros album, but not the best.......2007-05-12

The first half of this two part album is really very good, although the lyrics, which are in the made up language of "Hopelandic", seem a bit repetitive. The album seem to fade for the next three tunes before the band re-emerges for another honest go of it in the in eighth and final track.

Definitely worth owning if your are a Sigur Ros fan, but not as good as Takk or AEgitis Byrjun

Haunting and Beautiful.......2007-04-15

Sigur Ros is, without a doubt, one of my favorite bands of all time. What these guys do can't be described; you have to hear it for yourself to understand. I think the word beautiful gets thrown around too much these days, but if any album I own deserves the title, this one is it. I mean, there isn't a bad track on the whole disc. How often does that happen? Sure, some tracks are better than others, but that's only because those tracks (1, 3, and especially 4 & 8 in my opinion) are so mind-blowingly good that they would put anything else to shame no matter what. Track 4 has one of the most amazing introductions that I've ever heard, and track 8 is, through and through, spectacular. It's like the whole CD is snow falling on a hillside, and the end of track 8 is the avalanche. It gives me chills every time I hear it.

If you are already looking into getting this CD you're probably the type of person who will love it, so stop reading this and buy it. You won't regret it.

Is this a joke?.......2007-04-05

I hope I am not the first person to ask this question. I mean seriously. What is all the hype about? This is not new or innovative. Slowdive, telefon aviv and tangerine dream fooled around with this angle a decade back.
Emotional? Please. Ulrich is classier in his sleep but if he is too "techno" for you what about Deja Etandu or Super furry animals or bomb the bass? It also kind of irks me how this record borrows heavily from krautrock and the shoegazing genre with a leniency towards Slowdive.
Sorry. It is not a bad record. I've just heard better that's all. The records I've heard are good enough to ruin this album for me.

Oh yeah. And the not IDing the track gimmick? It gets old guys. Zeppelin pulled the same stunt and so do a lot of artists these days. I actually found the track IDs online and their translations. Yeeash. Talk about a mediocre emotionally misdirected premise. Its okay I guess. I hear Brad Pitt and Madonna dig it... Let me save you some cognitive dissonance and make a suggestion; they might simply have bad taste in music

Fairly recommended.

The majesty of winter..........2007-01-15

Well, since Texas is currently in the midst of an ice storm (yes, it does happen on occasion), what better time than to review Sigur Ros? These odd fellows from Iceland make music that is tailor-made for the cold. Huge, thick, spacious melodies, that perfectly evoke the icy winds of the north. Now, while their music may be beautiful, it is far from accessible. A lot of people, including many post rock fans, probably just will not get this. The music is very minimalist, even by post rock standards, and the vocals are very odd and often atonal, and the lyrics are all sung in a made-up language that sounds pretty nonsensical. However, despite all these things, this is something that, given the right atmosphere and occasion, can really hit the spot.

As I said, the music here is very minimalist in arrangement. There is none of the dramatic "rise and fall" that you get with bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor or Explosions in the Sky. But, that's not to say that there's no buildup. Instead, the entire album seems to build up as a collective whole. The first four tracks are softer, more dismal, more subdued, and then in the second half of the album, the guitars, keys, and drums gradually become louder, creating an impressive albeit subtle crescendo. Now, people have mentioned the parentheses of the album "title" representing the two halves of the album, but personally I think that's just people reading WAY too much into the title (the parentheses are most likely just a place holder for the fact that there is no title). However, there is a definite division between the first and second halves, which you can clearly hear in the music. Plus, track 4 has a few seconds of silence at the end, that seem to serve as a mini-intermission between them.

For its 70+ length, this album never gets boring, even when you kind of think it probably should. The songs all sort of fit together as one big composition (which I guess is why they have no titles), but my faves would have to be track 3, a beautiful piano instrumental; track 5, with its swelling organs that almost bring "Dark Side..." era Pink Floyd to mind; and track 7, with its monumental hugeness. And as for the vocals, well, they're weird, but you get used to them. In fact, I personally don't think you even have to like the vocals at all to get into this band. The music is so hugely enveloping, it just completely overpowers them most of the time. It's very easy to just forget they're even there.

Anyway, this is a great album, despite the limited appeal that it may have. Also, if I may rant for a moment, I resent the accusations of "pretension" that are often hurled at this band. It seems like every band that's even remotely cerebral or experimental is automatically labeled as pretentious by someone. This term is so annoyingly overused in criticising music, that it's practically becoming meaningless, especially since half the people who use it don't even seem to know what it actually means. Pretension is a false sense of superiority, and listening to this album, I really doubt that these guys are making music to try to feel as though they're better than everyone else. They just wanted to do something different, and express themselves in a unique way, and I really don't see why that should be a crime.

Ok, sorry for that. Anyway, give this a listen. It could be just what you need for a dreary winter day.

Average customer rating: Wonderfull A Masterpiece Indeed! blowingmasterscream This album is really amazing and you should buy it.

Screaming Masterpiece Sigur Ros , and Bjork Manufacturer: One Little Indian Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Takk... Hoppípolla Ágætis Byrjun Finally We Are No One Angels of the Universe ASIN: B000BITTDU Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

1. Fero Til Breioafjaroar
2. All Is Full of Love - Bj , Icelandic String Octet, Matmos, Zeena Parkins
3. #8 A.K.A. Popplagio
4. Odi et Amo - H, , , Gudmundur Kristmundsson
5. Green Grass of Tunnel
6. Find What You Get - Bang Gang
7. Romantica - Apparat Organ Quartet
8. Brostnar Borgir
9. Within Tolerance - Slowbow
10. Conversation
11. Motorcrash - The Sugarcubes
12. Bank = Fyjar, Bruxelles, Barcelona, Reykjav- Ghostigial, , Frosti Logason,
13. I'd Ask - Mugison
14. Fjarskanistan - Amina
15. Oceania - Bj
16. Hrafnagaldur/Odin's Raven Magic - Schola Cantorum, Guamundss, The Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, ,

Product Description

1. Steindor Andersen & Sigur Ros - A ferd til Breidafjardar
2. Bj?rk - All is Full of Love
3. Sigur R?s & Amina - #8 aka Popplagid
4. Johann Johannsson - Odi et Amo
5. M?m - Green Grass of Tunnel
6. Bang Gang - Find What You Get
7. Apparat Organ Quartet - Romantica
8. Eivor Palsdottir - Brostnar borgir
9. Slowblow - Within Tolerance
10. Finnbogi Petursson - Conversation
11. The Sugarcubes - Motorcrash
12. Ghostigital - Bank
13. Mugison - I'd Ask
14. Amina - Fjarskanistan
15. Sigur R?s etc - Odin's Raven Magic (10 minutes extract)


Format: CD

Amazon.com

The tiny, strange, and environmentally harsh Viking country of Iceland has produced some of the world's most original pop music of the past few decades, despite being inhabited by just 300,000 people. Fostered by a physical isolation from the world and temperatures that strongly encourage humans to stay inside, the nation has developed a music that tends just as much towards a light ethereality as it does jagged, experimental harshness. The soundtrack to this ironically-titled music documentary (originally called Gargandi Snilld) mixes lesser-known Icelandic acts (Bang Gang, Minuswith, Slowblow, Mugison) with ones that we can presume live inside the iPods of every other college kid (Sigur Rós, Múm, Björk). And while there is an unfortunate paucity of rarities by the better known acts, true discoveries abound: Mugison imagines the Kings of Convenience matched with White Hassle; Jóhann Jóhannsson's flotational sounds with the Kraftwerk voice trick are a joy; and you just have to hear the Apparat Organ Quartet. -Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfull.......2007-06-14

A great stage compilation. Singers, musicians, stage performance... all well done to represent the spirit of far, distant and chilly Iceland. Modern sound and contemporary artists singing their lungs while musicians harmoniously pulling strings and banging drums. I liked it. HOWEVER! IF YOU WERE EXPECTING A SOLO Sigur Ros album - it is not. That is a compilation of various artists and Sigur Ros are only presented in the first and last pieces.

A Masterpiece Indeed!.......2007-02-07

This album is probably one of the most unique and excellent soundtracks/compilations I've ever heard. It's nice to get a mixture of lesser known Icelandic artists and well known Icelandic artists. Listening to this album makes you feel like you're getting into a one of a kind Icelandic experience. Definitely worth buying.

blowingmasterscream.......2006-06-14

i wanted so badly to get to see the Screaming Masterpiece movie. and finally i did. the experience is amazing, mindblowing. just to get to see Bjork performing live pluto and all is full of love in her last 2003 world tour worth the movie ticket. everything else is a bonus track!!! and what a bonus!!!
from the start with sigur ros, then bang gang and múm... worldless... in between you discover little jewels like the amina girls and apparatt...so you leave the movie theater hoping to make your next holidays trip to iceland!. first step for most of us, poor humans, is get the ost!. you will love this songs, they are all great, original,emotional stuff. if you are about to discover what`s next after Bjork and Sigur ros, well, here`s the first step to heaven. enjoy!

This album is really amazing and you should buy it........2006-01-23

This is an amazing compilation and well worth it. It will make you feel deeply and experience a high within yourself and open new closets within yourself. I didn't know what to expect of the artists I didn't know ---usually compilations scare me away even if they have some of my favorite artists on it----but I must say I like every single song (except for sugarcubes). It gives you an idea of Iceland and mixes the energy of the pieces- from high energy to low - in a way that works very well. This is a unqiue compilation- and one of the few that is worth interest in my opinion. Beautiful. And I'm at a loss for good words.

Average customer rating: Trabajo interesante A very relaxing and intriguing Soundtrack An Interesting Medium

Roving Mars Manufacturer: Lakeshore Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music All Works by Glass | Glass, Philip | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Illusionist Philip Glass : The Voyage: An Opera in Three Acts Notes on a Scandal: Original Soundtrack Philip Glass: The Concerto Project, Vol. 2 Philip Glass : Symphony No. 8 ASIN: B000FP2ZUS Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

1. Opening titles _ Philip Glass
2. Robot Geologist _ Philip Glass
3. Origami Spacekraft _ Philip Glass
4. Spirit and Opportunity _ Philip Glass
5. Eyes, Hands, Wheels _ Philip Glass
6. So Much of Our Hopes _ Philip Glass
7. 7 Months After Launch _ Philip Glass
8. Unfolding _ Philip Glass
9. Sediments _ Philip Glass
10. Landing _ Philip Glass
11. Opportunity vs. Spirit _ Philip Glass
12. Floating in Space _ Philip Glass
13. Life Itself _ Philip Glass
14. Gli _ Sigur R

Customer Reviews:

Trabajo interesante.......2006-12-12

Como he comentado en otras oportunidades considero a Philip Glass como un extraordinario compositor. Sin embargo, siento que en sus trabajos de sountrack no termina de desarrollar buenas ideas en sus piezas.

Este trabajo mantiene ese sin sabor... al menos a mi, al final de cada pieza siento que se hubiera podido desarrollar aun mas lo que comenzó.

Sin embargo, en general, es un muy buen trabajo, que te lleva y con la sola música ya te habla de la película

A very relaxing and intriguing Soundtrack .......2006-11-12

When I first found out about this soundtrack online I was curious to find out what the music sounded like. I got the soundtrack before I got the chance to see the IMAX film. Interestingly enough, the soundtrack is better then the film itself. There are a lot of realistic computer graphics and behind the scenes footage about how the Mars Rovers were built and what they did once they got underway on the Red Planet but many of the interviews with the scientists were boring and in the end, it is the computer graphics and the robots themselves that make for an interesting film. The composer of the soundtrack does a very good job with setting the mood for the film. You feel as though you're actually going into space with the robots and circling the mysterious planet of Mars. After listening to the CD, my favorite tracks are the opening title and the finale theme song, which is very uplifting and I never get tired of listening to it. For someone who is interested in robotics or just listening to an intriguing soundtrack, "Roving Mars" is definitely worth it.

An Interesting Medium.......2006-07-18

One can't help but seem fascinated by Philip Glass's choice of projects. Very hesitantly did the composer agree to score his iconic Koyaanisqatsi. Films that followed have been quirky indy projects covering a variety of subjects. "Mindwalk, A Brief History of Time, Fog of War, Mishima and Candyman" and others are hardly in the realm of the mainstream; but these films all offered something different and inspiring to Glass.
The same can be said of his score to Roving Mars. With its opening "Mars" bars we see an image of the (apparently) manacing Red Planet. The opening notes are straight out of Glass's "Music with Changing Parts". In this score, each of the NASA rovers receives its own music which reoccurs in different forms through out the score. The music is scored for small orchestra and the recording sounds nice.
Glass's mainstream film scoring has however yielded less interesting results (Secret Window, Taking Lives) with the exception of the remarkable "The Hours". Roving Mars is quite interesting, and at about 35 minutes it is short and sweet.

Average customer rating: Different, but very satisfying Under Rated, and very good. Fascinating noise. Good, but not essential

Von Sigur Rós Manufacturer: Smekkleysa ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Ambient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Space Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Ágætis Byrjun Takk... ( ) Hoppípolla Sigur Rós (Ny Batteri) ASIN: B0002SVW3O Release Date: 2004-10-26

Tracks:

1. Sigur R Sigur R
2. D - Sigur R
3. Hr - Sigur R
4. Leit Afi - Sigur RSigur R
5. Myrkur - Sigur RSigur R
6. 18 Sek Fyrir Suppr- Sigur RSigur R
7. Hafss Sigur R
8. VerNSigur R
9. Von - Sigur RSigur R
10. Mistur - Sigur RSigur R
11. Syndir GuOpinberun Frelsarans) - Sigur RSigur R
12. Rukrym - Sigur RSigur R

Customer Reviews:

Different, but very satisfying.......2007-06-23

If you read other reviews, you will get a taste that this album is clearly different from Sigur Ros' others. However, for people like me, that is very enjoyable (even though I do like their others). I believe they were looking for their sound, and didn't know what worked or didn't. I can hear influences from many people, including My Bloody Valentine, Spacemen 3, 7% Solution, and even Pink Floyd. As another reviewer stated, you can think of this album as a sound collage. It is very dreamy and atmospheric, and for me, that is what I look for in a lot of my music. So if you want to relax to something hypnotic, I would suggest this.

Under Rated, and very good........2007-06-12

My first experience with Sigur Ros: Living in a one room dormatory in Korea, I awoke in the middle of the night to the aggression of "Hún Jörð" When I cleared my eyes, I had looked across the darkened room to the album cover in full display on the computer screen. Needless to say it scared the hell out of me.

This album is quite good, and isn't nearly as interested in finding a destination as "( )" or "Ágætis Byrjun". I especially enjoy "Dögun" and the meandering "Hafssól". Give this one a shot...it has some pleasant surprises.

Fascinating noise. .......2007-04-29

This is really more of a "sound collage" than a propper album. Only four of the tracks on here really count as "songs" persay, with the eight other tracks consisting mostly of ambient noises arranged in a fairly artistic manner. If you were expecting something like the other three Sigur Rós albums, this is not it. Honestly, had the band broken up before going on to record Agaetis Byrjun, their musical legacy would be virtually nonexistant, a mere curiousity of the late 90's Icelandic music scene for only the most serious collectors. As "experimental" as this album sounds, this is certainly not the most original work Sigur Rós has done.

This is not to say that Von is without its charms. The ambient noise compiled here makes a great soundtrack to a quiet night at home reading, studying, or just staring off into space and thinking. Each of the four "songs" is masterfully constructed with an otherworldy quality remniscent of Rennaisance polyphony and early 90's shoegazer music that would be further developed into the style Sigur Rós bases their later albums on. Overall, this is a very pleasant listening experience if you don't feel like listening to conventional music and want something a bit more etherial.

The price listed is a bit high, but this might be worth purchasing if you're a die-hard fan or naturally interested in "unaccessible" works. For anyone casually interested, it's probably best to scour the internet or something; due to the rather iconic nature of the band, this recording is perhaps less obscure than one would expect.

Good, but not essential.......2007-03-15

The sound is cleary different from their other CDs, but it is still obviously Sigur Rós. It's pretty atmospheric, with some intense sound and voice effects.
There's not too much to say about it.
I won't say it's necessary to own this CD if you consider yourself a Sigur Rós fan, but if you feel the need to own all of their albums, go ahead and make a purchase: you probably won't be too disappointed.

Average customer rating: Smáskifa I am dumbstruck late but important disturbing crap melting ice and liking it

Sigur 1 / Sigur 9 (CD & DVD) Sigur Rós Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | CD Singles | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hoppípolla Sigur Rós (Ny Batteri) ( ) Ágætis Byrjun Svefn-G-Englar ASIN: B00008Y4E8 Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

1. Sigur 1 (untitled)
2. Sigur 9 A (untitled)
3. Sigur 9 B (untitled)
4. Sigur 9 C (untitled)

Tracks:

1. Svefn G Englar (Video)
2. Vidrar (Video)
3. Untitled (Video)

Customer Reviews:

Smáskifa.......2006-08-11

This CD/DVD collection, along with the new Saeglopur CD/DVD set, is one of the most beautiful and worthwhile singles any band has ever released. Untitled #1 (aka Vaka) is a slow but powerful song, with a video which compliments it incredibly. #1 is possibly the best song from ( ), excepting maybe #4, but at any rate it is definitely single worthy.

Untitled #9 A-C (which the band refers to as "Smáskifa", the Icelandic word for "Single") is haunting and layered, with sampled vocals a little too creepy for mainstream music. Part C is mostly ambient fluctuations of the same note for four minutes. Whether listened to as the counterpart of #1, or just thrown onto the end of the ( ) album as the final track, it fits very well and has a good mood for closure.

The DVD is obviously a huge draw, with their three first videos collected on one disk. With most places selling this for less than 10 dollars, it's an incredibly good buy. If you like Sigur Ros, this is a good bet. If you're just interested in getting into them, even better, because the DVD has their earlier videos. 5/5.

I am dumbstruck.......2004-12-13

This music is set to be an influence way beyond the next few years.What Radiohead started Sigur Ros have taken to undreamed directions and heights. But enough of the music- to the videos: Vidrar Vel Til Loftarasa just left me dumbstruck and it's worth the paying price for this video alone. Although I'm not gay, I've experienced bigotry being one of the only punks in a small town many years ago and I related to the extent I was in tears at the end. The use of the camera, the confident and sophisticated symbolism,the time setting and performances of the two boys and the real film effect (as opposed to god-awful looking modern video) made me believe that this was an accomplished full film that the guys had edited for their own benefit. When I found out they directed it I realised that I am witnessing true greatness at work.Sigur Ros are the kind of band that make you celebrate the existance of life, connect you with Yourself and fill you with hope.Extraordinary.

late but important.......2004-11-05

this is my late review, but i felt i had to post to clear some stuff for those who go out buyin sigur ros cds to brag about listening to foreign music without even knowing what it means or what it stands for.
The music cd, didnt really shock because i knew what i was buying, and it was pure "sigur ros"; musical interpurtations that reflecte human emotions, which is why i like it, and why thier concert in houston was sold out a whole month prior. I was shocked cause i didnt think anybody would even know them.
About the gay kids, i can't relate to it, but it, and the song, so together perfectly. Same with the "untitled 1", which got the MTV Europe award for best video last year. It would be a good addition to any fan, and a brief intro to the sigur ros world

disturbing crap.......2004-07-25

The downs are to multiply, the 12-year old BOYS to passionately kiss-our future? I don't think so. Stick to the music as I do, helpful? Curious about the DVD? I'm throwing it away. Catch...

melting ice and liking it.......2004-04-04

I don't know what to say. Sigur Ros has taught me what a powerful instrument the human voice can be. If you're obsessed with lyrics you will be disappointed... but if you are open to experience music in a new and different way then Sigur Ros is a group of talented adventurous beautiful rapscallions that will change something about you. If you ever have the opportunity to hear them live, do not pass go do not collect $200! It's up to you. The words mean nothing on their own. Just sounds -- sounds that will teach and change and entertain you. PS. Hi Bjorn thanks for the hub! Y'all rock!

Average customer rating: 8/10 Sometimes EPs Work Best Sæglópular

Sæglópur Sigur Rós Manufacturer: Filter U.S. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Hoppípolla Sigur Rós (Ny Batteri) Takk... Screaming Masterpiece Svefn-G-Englar ASIN: B000GGSM2Q Release Date: 2006-08-08

Tracks:

1. Saeglopur
2. Refur
3. O Fridur
4. Kafari

Customer Reviews:

8/10.......2006-11-21

Reviewgium - Volume I, issue XVIII

This is an EP/DVD package from Icelandic post-rock band Sigar Rós based on the "Sæglópur" single from the previously released album, Takk.... The songs on this EP, as most other songs by the band, are uplifting and imaginative, relying heavily on instrumental passages and backgrounds that include piano, strings, chimes, and often abrupt, heavy guitar sections. Also, the majority of the lyrics are in the contrived Hopelandic language, an innovative gimmick of the band that seems to be kind of hit-or-miss with listeners.

The CD half of the package features a slightly extended version of the title track, and three new songs. These include "Refur," a slow, instrumental piano melody; "Ó Fridur," a harmonious track that uses piano, winds, and strings to seemingly create a musical equivalent of walking through a large country meadow during a spring rainshower; and "Kafari," a charming, percussive song that, for me, seems to continue the theme of "Ó Fridur" as if--walking through that rainy meadow--you discovered a pristine brook in its midst that no one ever knew was there.

The DVD contains three videos for the songs "Sæglópur," "Hoppipolla," and "Glósóli," all three of which are very good, and the latter of which is nothing short of spectacular. The thing that makes these better than typical music videos is that they actually CONTRIBUTE artistically to the music, and their ambiguous imagery leaves a lot to the imagination of the viewer.

I assume that most dedicated Sigur Rós fans already have this release, and if not, it is definitely worth picking up. If you have never heard of Sigur Rós, they are definitely worth looking into if you are in the mood for something different. I would suggest starting with one of their full-length releases before buying this, but if you become a fan of the band, you definitely should not miss out on this package.

Sometimes EPs Work Best.......2006-10-13

Sigur Ros continue to surprise me. Here on this EP, I believe they have written one of their most haunting and beautiful songs, O Fridur. While I like the EP as a whole and it works very well, it's O Fridur that stands out here. This song is nothing short of extraordinary. The string and overall song arrangements are quite sophisticated for such relatively young men. O Fridur's arrangement shimmers and flutters with haunting but beautiful and gentle tension. It's the type of song that plays in my head long after I've actually listened to it.

I think EPs are a great format. Sigur Ros certainly understand the art form of the EP and is a band that should release EPs more often. I would love to see them release new songs in box set of 5 or 6 EPs. I would think it would be difficult to place 10 to 12 songs together into a cohesive mix and obviously an EP allows a better chance at reaching continuity and thematic insight.

The song choices were impeccable and any omission of any one of these songs would have stripped this EP of its power and grace.

Sæglópular.......2006-08-09

It's only been a year since Sigur Ros's last full-length album "Takk," and yet... somehow I miss them.

Fortunately, to tide fans over, Sigur Ros has released "Sæglópur," an EP with accompanying DVD, as a sort of sequel to "Takk." It's not mind-blowing, but it is a pleasant little collection that fans will enjoy as they await whatever sonic prettiness Sigur Ros will create in future.

The title track opens with some odd creaks and croaking noises, as if someone left the mike out in the grass at night. Then the delicate, airy piano melodies begin, following Sigur Ros's pattern of slow buildup and expansive middle section -- the epic sonic sweep of "Sæglópur" is only upped by the dreamy outro that fades away.

It's followed by similarly pretty songs that are very much in their past style -- the low-key "Refur," which is barely long enough to count as a full song, and the hesitant violin shimmers of the eerie "O Fridur," which may be the most inventive song here. The EP finally rounds off with the lulling, ambient "Kafari," which almost sent me to sleep.

If anything critical can really be said, it's that "Sæglópur's" songs would work better as part of an album, rather than as odds and ends. But taken for themselves, the songs are quite nice and pretty, with that eerie, icy edge that Sigur Ros have turned into a trademark, along with Jonsi's otherworldly vocals and not-in-any-real-language singing.

The DVD includes three music videos: "Glosoli"opens with a drummer boy sitting by the seashore, and whose drumming draws other children to follow him over the snowy fields and mountains of Iceland, to a Peter Pannish finale -- which would sound trite normally, but which is done with an innocent sense of wonder.

"Hoppipola" is a sort of hand-cam video, and the weakest of the three -- basically a gang of old people acting like little children, though it has its cute moments (like that little kiss). And "Sæglópur" is the darkest of them, with sort of a twisted magical-realism/horror vibe. And an octopus.

This is basically a few odds and ends left over, but it's quite well done, and the music videos are a nice accompaniment. A nice addition for fans of the band.

Average customer rating: Not for everyone... Brilliant This is NOT Sigur Ros at all TOO challenging ( ) is better

Angels of the Universe Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson , Sigur Rós , and Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson Manufacturer: Fat Cat ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Screaming Masterpiece Takk... Ágætis Byrjun ( ) Svefn-G-Englar ASIN: B00005MJCN Release Date: 2001-09-18

Tracks:

1. Approach/Dream
2. Memory
3. The Black Dog And The Scottish Play
4. Degradation
5. Over The Bend
6. Colours
7. Journey To The Underworld
8. Shave
9. On The Road
10. Another Memory
11. Relapse
12. Coma
13. Schiller In China
14. Helpless
15. Te Morituri...
16. Bium Bium Bambalo
17. Death Announcements And Funerals

Album Description

Originally an extremely limited release on Sigur Ros' Krunk label, this soundtrack, composed by Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson with Sigur Ros contributing 2 lengthy pieces, is now available on Fat Cat Records.

Customer Reviews:

Not for everyone..........2005-09-16

There are some outstanding moments throughout this album which will please even the casual Sigur Ros fan. The final cut is undoubtedly among their best, but the compositions of Himarsson go well beyond the ambitions of Sigur Ros' two recent critically-acclaimed releases. If you are a fan of ambient music and postmodern composition, delight in this, but if you're just looking for something to get stoned to, try ().

Brilliant.......2005-05-03

This is the soundtrack to an Icelandic flick called "Angels of the Universe". It is psychedelic at best although it offers that fuzzy has synonymous with Sigur Ros. I would describe this as a masterpiece. People who also like Björk, Dada Pogrom, and Mum will be pleasantly thrilled. It is perfect bedtime music.

This is NOT Sigur Ros at all.......2004-08-21

What amazes me with the reviews I've read of this album is the fact that people seem to think it was made by Sigur Ros, when in fact they only contributed two songs they had recently recorded for the Ny Batteri EP--those songs being the final two, Bíum bíum bambaló and Death Announcements and Funerals. Furthermore, the songs Sigur contributed weren't even penned by the band. Bíum is an old Icelandic lullably, while Announcements is a song that is played one Icelandic radio whenever deaths of funeral arrangements are announced. Sigur simply remixed the songs about, and made them feel more modern.

With that out of the way, this album is still fantastic. I'd never heard Hilmarsson's work before this album, and it's safe to say I rank him as one of the more talented musical minds around today. There must be something about Iceland that allows its inhabitants to produce such beautiful art, because all the music I've heard from over there--Sigur Ros, Mum, Bjork, Hilmarsson--is unspeakably beautiful. Hilmarsson wrote this album fusing several styles together: there are strong elements of classical music (the Russian composers in particular), background ambience and effects with an electronic touch reminiscent of Sigur Ros or Mum, and finally repeating melodies almost like that of godspeed you! black emperor. I say almost because gy!be uses repetition to slowly lift you up and then throw you, while Hilmarsson uses it almost like a painter would use the same color over and over on his canvas. In the first four or five songs, there is a repeating tune that goes over and over, with slight variations each time in pattern, rhythm, background, etc. Around track six, that tune twist a bit and almost feels like it corrupts or decays. It becomes surreal and haunting. It builds in volume and intensity--again, very similar to gy!be, but not quite the same--until track eight, which completes the first half of the album. The second half has its own common features, even elements from the first half, but seems twisted somehow and otherworldly. There's a lot of fierce, distorted noise towards the end like in tracks eleven or twelve. It gets angrier and angrier until it seems to sort of die. The last tracks before Sigur's work are very soft and mournful, almost wind-like.

Cue Sigur Ros. I'm a huge fan of Jonsi and the gang, don't get me wrong, but...they hardly fit at the end. Hilmarsson's work is rather unique, it's his own, and you can tell yourself that the last two tracks were implanted by someone else. Maybe in the context of the film the last two songs make more sense, but not here. While they're good songs, more great work from Sigur complete with the signature haunting vocals and reverberations in the background, they don't fit on this album. I'd have preferred Hilmarsson to have finished the disc himself, or even by ending it at Te Morituri. While this is a phenomenal disc, and Hilmarsson definitely deserves five stars and due credit for the music HE wrote, the misplaced elements at the end made me bring it down to a three. Hilmarsson also has another CD out entitled 'Children of Nature,' but I've had no luck in finding it...shame this guy isn't better-known. He definitely deserves it, for the beauty of his work.

TOO challenging.......2004-03-22

this was a little too much for me. i love all of sigur ros' albums (i even have von) but this...it's like going to the opera. it's that boring. basically, if you're into classical music, this is definitly great. i'm not denying talent here. sigur ros and whoever this other group is are both awesome on this cd musically, but it's not my thing.

what i'm saying is this: just because you like sigur ros doesn't mean you're going to like this. be careful here. (it is cheap though, if you want it for collection purposes)

( ) is better.......2003-07-15

I would like to consider myself a tough reviewer. The previous CD i bought from Sigur Ros, (), really astounded me in it's beauty, especially becuase it was so simple. It reminded you as to what heaven could be like. This CD, however, despite it's peacefulness, didn't quite measure up to () for two reasons: 1, because there is almost no vocals in it, which is in my opinion, the best part of Sigur Ros, and 2, because it can be very boring. Sometimes it is hard to tell when the songs even change. However, when you come across tracks such as 'Shave' and 'Death announcements and funerals', you are compelled to feel that feeling that can only Sigur Ros can deliver. If you already have all of the other Sigur Ros albums, I would recommend this. Otherwise, it would probably be best to go with ().

Average customer rating: Ba ba babble what was that? Nice little treasure. This rose has bloomed It's not bad....

Ba Ba/Ti Ki/Di Do Sigur Rós Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | CD Singles | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sigur 1 / Sigur 9 (CD & DVD) Hoppípolla Svefn-G-Englar Ágætis Byrjun Sigur Rós (Ny Batteri) ASIN: B0001LYFZY Release Date: 2004-03-23

Tracks:

1. Ba Ba
2. Ti Ki
3. Di Do

Customer Reviews:

Ba ba babble.......2004-11-25

Sigur Ros is one of those blindingly good bands that occasionally churns out something... not so good. Not bad, but far from good. Sadly that is the case with "Ba Ba/Ti Ki/Di Do," a simplistic little soundtrack EP that sounds pretty, but doesn't inspire a second listen. Heck, it didn't even inspire a title.

"Ba Ba" is perhaps the prettiest song on here, a coldly delicate little synth melody that slips back to where it began, on an ambient loop. After some babbly vocals, "Ti Ki" debuts with a cracked, disjointed sound, followed by the wavery, eerie "Di Do."

Created for the Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, this EP may be better if you watch people dancing as you listen. It's somewhat like Sigur Ros's previous work, but somehow it feels more simplistic and sloppy, as if it were slapped together quickly.

Jonsi's falsetto vocals are pleasant, even when he utters baby noises. Backing him are a bunch of experimental samples -- a robotic voice, bells, music boxes, clock gears, and so on. They definitely have the makings of brilliance, but they also overwhelm the delicate ambient melodies. The experimental tracks never quite gel.

Perhaps the worst thing is that Sigur Ros's elusive, almost elfin emotions seem to be missing. The songs of "Ba Ba/Ti Ki/Di Do" are definitely interesting and offbeat, but it's not great. They dart very close to the musical grandeur from "( )" and "Agaetis Byrjun," but fall just short because of a lack of musical focus.

The die-hard Sigur Ros fans may want to give this a spin. "Ba Ba/Ti Ki/Di do" is an interesting EP, but by a truly excellent band like Sigur Ros, this blurry collection feels like a bit of a letdown.

what was that?.......2004-09-11

I bought this ep and admittedly expected something like ( ), or Agaetis Byrjun. After listening to it, I found myself sorrowly disappointed and happy that the ep was so short. I compare it to what I imagine it would sound like inside the head of someone being classified as "insane" and locked up in an institution. Otherwise, it was dull.

Nice little treasure........2004-09-09

This is a very interesting release for Sigur Ros. Completely different from their two full lengths, but that's good isn't it? We don't want bands making the same album a bunch of times. (Not that the first two were "the same" really). This is entirely instrumental, and much more minimal and abstract than the other albums.

"Ba Ba" gradually materializes from silence with a gentle, ethereal, keyboard melody, which keeps unfolding to reveal more little melodies of music boxes winding up, bells, and pianos. It really evokes a magical kind of dream-like atmosphere in the clouds. I think this track really flows the best and sounds the fullest, sounds like it could be from ().

"Ti Ki" has more music box sounds and odd repetitive electronic dings. very sparse for a while then really builds up.

The last track "Di Do" is kind of creepy, with strange mangled robotic voices repeating the song titles, and swooshing noises, but actually evolves into a good rhythm for a while until the song is tortured and distorted to the point where it is pretty much random experimental noise. This is probably one of the most bizarre songs I've ever heard .

I admit, I probably won't listen to this very often, but it was a very worthwhile purchase for the collection. Fans of the Icelandic band Mum will probably dig this album, as it sounds more like Mum than Sigur Ros. Sometimes I think i'm listening to Mum rather than Sigur Ros, usually on the second song. They had to get some inspiration from them, it sounds so similar. It also reminds me slightly of Aphex Twin, and very slightly of Ulver, mostly on the "Quick fix of melancholy" EP. You should definitely check out Mum and Ulver's electronic music if you enjoy this.

This rose has bloomed.......2004-08-29

After the relatively dull and repetitive (), I sort of had my doubts reviewing another release by this Icelandic group, thinking it would be the same old stuff all over again. But (thank goodness) I was wrong, very wrong. This is a very haunting single and probably the best thing they've done since their second album `Agaetis Byrjun'.


`Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do' was composed for Merce Cunningham's dance company's 50th performance (loosely it is a company that bases itself on free expression and merges all types of the arts; music, painting etc as one whole). It is also worth noting that Radiohead also wrote a piece but will not release it.
The first thing you will hear on `Ba Ba' is the swirling tinkering of a music box, not dissimilar to the opening of Mike Oldfield's `Tubular Bells', and this does certainly set the scene especially when Jonti's ethereal voice appears. This merges with `Ti Ki', which samples those crunching sounds that were last heard on (). The weird thing is that while on that record it sounded tedious, here it sounds magical and complements the whole sound of this piece. The track further develops with clockwork noises, which makes it sound a lot like Aphex Twin's `Nannou' (b side of `Windowlicker').
The last track is `Di Do' is definitely the standout and starts out with a robotic voice that is repeating the single's title to the background of whooshing noise. The robotic voice just becomes louder until it sounds like it is being tortured and then it slowly becomes quiet and the record ends with a thudding noise.
From listening to this track I've learnt a couple of things. One is that Sigur Ros are much more digestible in small doses, and hopefully they'll do more things like this in the near future.

It's not bad...........2004-08-17

This is pretty good for an EP. I'm glad I didn't spend way too much on this though. Ba Ba and Ti Ki are both equally good songs in my opinion, and Di Do is the best once it really gets going, unfortunately it doesn't last as long as the screeching mess that comes after it. Should've been the other way around.

If you can find this for a reasonable price and you're into Sigur Ros, get this.

Mexican Music:

1. Bill Cosby "Himself"
2. Canyon Trilogy: Native American Flute Music
3. Crashes Collisions & Catastrophes
4. Dakshina
5. December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition [Enhanced] [Extra tracks]
6. Earthsongs
7. Every King a Bastard Son
8. Greatest Hits
9. Greatest Hits
10. Hits from Grease, Vol. 3 [Karaoke]

Mexican Music

mexican music

Mexican Music

Killer Eyes [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]

Sounds Of Memory - Works by Norbert Glanzberg

Olympia 1961 [Import]

Music CD: Etc. Etc. Etc.

Singles [Import]

Porque Te Amo

Sanctified Woman

Schoenberg: String quartet in D; Zemlinsky: String Quartets No2

Pro Agonist

Personalidad: 20 Exitos

R is for...Razorcuts

Plastic Rock [Import]

Red Light Express [Import]

The Love He Gave Us - Christian Love Songs for Today's Christian Couple

Live in Europe