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Track Listings
| 1. Intro |
| 2. Svefn-g-englar |
| 3. Staralfur |
| 4. Flugufrelsarinn |
| 5. Ny Batteri |
| 6. Hjartao Hamast (Bamm Bamm Bamm) |
| 7. Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa |
| 8. Olsen Olsen |
| 9. Agaetis Byrjun |
| 10. Avalon |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Reykjavík-based noise quartet Sigur Ros are the biggest band in their native Iceland, which should say much, much more about the collective insanity of that earthquake-ridden, blizzard-beaten crag of an island than anything to do with Sigur Ros' sound. But in their music, Sigur Ros reflect all the breathtaking glory of the Icelandic wastes--a fairy-tale explosion of unhinged elemental majesty that's finally crystalised here, their debut European release. Poised somewhere between the haunting soundscapes of Labradford and the lilting Celtic falsetto of Enya, Agaetis Byrjun is a truly breathtaking listen. Frontman Jon Por Birgisson sings in a language that Sigur Ros dub Hopelandic--an otherworldly mutation of Icelandic, sung in the falsetto cadence of angels; similarly, he plays his guitar with a violin bow, opening the floodgates for brilliant waves of feedback. And while it's the opening "Svefn-G-Englar" that's Sigur Ros' defining moment to date, there's far more that Agaetis Byrjun has to offer; the pomp and flourish of a full orchestra on "Flugufrelsarinn", or the awe-inspiring near-religious mantra of "Ny Batteri". --Louis Pattison
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Alan
Format:Audio CD
Beatiful. Majestic. Awe-inspiring. These are just a few of the words which can be used to describe this LP. This band immerse themselves totally in their surroundings - the beautiful landscapes of Iceland - and use it as their inspiration.
every other review of this album is spot on, so I won't make this any longer than it needs to be. One of the most interesting things that I find when I read other people's reviews is the variation in "favourite" tracks. Svefn-g-englar seems a popular choice, but the beauty of this album is that everyone sees something different in it. I've heard people say that their personal favourites are the title track, Svsfn-g-englar, Olsen Olsen, Ny Batteri... in fact, I've heard different people citing pretty much every track on the album as a highlight (except maybe the intro, for obvious reasons). My personal favourite is Staralfur, with its sweeping strings and haunting acoustic guitar.
In my opinion, the strongest Sigur Ros album - slightly edging out () and Takk...
Incidentally, people who look at my other reviews may notice that there are a great many 4 star ratings but only one 5 star rating - this one. I tend to only review albums that i like, but i try and avoid the two extremes - 1 star or 5 stars. i try to be objective with my reviews, so, believe me, if i think an album is deserving of 5 stars then take it as red that i wholeheartedly think that album is utter brilliance.
Buy it now.
every other review of this album is spot on, so I won't make this any longer than it needs to be. One of the most interesting things that I find when I read other people's reviews is the variation in "favourite" tracks. Svefn-g-englar seems a popular choice, but the beauty of this album is that everyone sees something different in it. I've heard people say that their personal favourites are the title track, Svsfn-g-englar, Olsen Olsen, Ny Batteri... in fact, I've heard different people citing pretty much every track on the album as a highlight (except maybe the intro, for obvious reasons). My personal favourite is Staralfur, with its sweeping strings and haunting acoustic guitar.
In my opinion, the strongest Sigur Ros album - slightly edging out () and Takk...
Incidentally, people who look at my other reviews may notice that there are a great many 4 star ratings but only one 5 star rating - this one. I tend to only review albums that i like, but i try and avoid the two extremes - 1 star or 5 stars. i try to be objective with my reviews, so, believe me, if i think an album is deserving of 5 stars then take it as red that i wholeheartedly think that album is utter brilliance.
Buy it now.
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
By simon scott
Format:Audio CD
Agaetis Byrjun is most possibly the most amazing album I have ever heard. Every track makes you tingle with emotion, and the purity and beauty of the wall of noise created will blow you away.
This album is the perfect mix of raw, violin- bow enhanced guitar, mind blowing vocals and a plethora of crazed, beautiful sounds. Culminating in a perfect state of blissful energy.
This album is the perfect mix of raw, violin- bow enhanced guitar, mind blowing vocals and a plethora of crazed, beautiful sounds. Culminating in a perfect state of blissful energy.
If your a fan of the more experimental radiohead or simply a person who enjoys beautiful music you should not be without this album. Listen to Svefn-G-Englar (track 2) and let your mind drift away into a blissful state of pure ecstasy.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
A friend recommended this unpronouncable album to me, knowing I had a taste for atmospheric, ambient, semi-orchestral/semi-electronic, spine-tingling music. And I wasn't disappointed. This has got to be one of the finest musical creations I've ever come across. I'm not good with the Icelandic track names, but for me tracks 2, 3 and 7 are the most divine, stopping me totally in my tracks and making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up on end. I understand the lyrics are in an invented language called "Hopelandic" (rather like the gobbledigook the Cocteau Twins used to sing), and this just adds to the mystery of the thing. But for this reason, and the lead singer's unusual high-pitched voice, it's an acquired taste (my wife certainly doesn't approve)! I was fortunate enough to see Sigur Ros live when they supported Radiohead in Oxford in early July 2001, and this just reinforced their credentials. To summarise: THIS ALBUM IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having been a fan of Sigur Ros for over a year now I feel that I have only just gained the right to review their album. From the word go this album is inspirational. Iceland does not know how lucky it is. Jonsi's singing is at worst brilliant and at best simply majestic. Sigur Ros are pioneers of music using cello bows to play their guitars, drumsticks to play a bass guitar and even have their own mini orchestra. I have heard their music described as "Icelandic landscaping" ; an apt desciption. Calm, melancholic and atmospheric followed by sudden eruptions of sound comparable to an exloding geyser. Olsen Olsen and Vidar vel til loftarasa could become anthems of our time and on a rainy sunday afternoon there is nothing like listening to the sonar sounds in staralfur. Well done Iceland, well done Sigur Ros ; the music world salutes you.
54 of 57 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Sigur Ros are a 4 piece outfit from Iceland, whose second studio album is quite simply the most jaw dropping, heart stopping piece of music that these ears have heard in ages and ages. If not ever. The sound of their music defies my desire to afford it suitable description. One review of this album that I read on the Net described it as 'the soundtrack to a Heavenly afterlife'. I will offer little that is more fitting than that.
However, reviews require comparisons and I would be failing you if I didn't provide one - however inadequate.
Imagine the sound of Air's 'Moon Safari'. Add the sound of Radiohead at their evocative, powerful best. Mix in the sort of piano and string work that would make you weep for joy if you heard it at Café Mambo. Then roast in the oven for 40 minutes at gas mark Melody. Double it and you have the defining album of this, or possibly any, summer.
10 tracks. One second short of 72 minutes. Chilled to the bone rhythms meet haunting instrumentation and ethereal 'Hopelandish' vocals to produce sheer emotion distilled into crescendo after slowly building crescendo. Pick a fine summer's evening, light a barbie, get some mates round; eat, drink and then watch them all fall apart as your new Sigur Ros cd melts even the hardest of their hearts.
If only one of you buys this album and, in short time, comes to agree with me then the mission that I currently feel I am on will have been satisfied.
"Agaetis Byrjun" apparently translates roughly as "A new beginning". Buy it. Treasure it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Late convert to Sigur Ros - this is astonishing!
I was in the pub one night and this came on. I was gobsmacked, couldn't believe I'd never heard it before. I asked the barman who it was and bought it the next day. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Keith Melton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Album grows on you
I have been a huge Sigur Ros fan for most my life, seen them in concert etc... And I bought all their albums, because I thought I needed to, and at first I was dissapointed by this... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most profoundly spiritual music I have ever heard
I first came across Sigur Ros during my 3rd or 4th visit to Iceland (can't remember which) back in 2001, when I wandered into Reykjavik record shop and asked the assistant to... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Miss J. M. Austin
4.0 out of 5 stars
More introspective than later albums
This album is a little more introspective than Sigur RÓs's later work, & doesn't feature many glorious highs or moments of joy. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mark
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon tax cheats
I won't be shopping with tax cheats like Amazon this christmas or any other time in the future and invite you to do the same.
Published 6 months ago by George Maguire
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificent
A huge achievement musically with the orchestral style accompaniment allowing a large canvas of relaxed flowing sounds. A musical aurora borealis.
Published 11 months ago by R. Vaughan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sweedish baffle.
Not the one I wanted cos I was looking for a particular song. Suppose it's ok if you like a kind of euro meditation pop music.
Published on 11 Mar 2011 by The Power
4.0 out of 5 stars
good but not great
This is a nice album to relax with. There are some haunting vocals and unusual instrument parts. I wouldn,t go as far as some people and say its life changing or anything... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2011 by P. Winthrop
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of THE greatest albums ever made and the best by Sigur Rós
As a lifelong fan of The Smiths, Pixies and Radiohead Sigur Rós had an immediate appeal to me in their creation and realisation of 'Fast'Slow' melodic music steeped in... Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2010 by Russell T. Steedman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not their best
There is alot of sitting around with anticipation that something wonderful is going to happen and some times is does and other times it doesn't. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by Stephen
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