It’s barely been a year since the release of Valtari, but Sigur Rós are almost unrecognisable on their seventh studio album. Kveikur is a sprawling, dark masterpiece, and is some of the heaviest and, surprisingly, most accessible music that the Icelandic trio have ever produced.
Sigur Rós have reinvented their sound following the departure of keyboardist and long-time member Kjartan Sveinsson earlier this year, and if Valtari was slightly lack-luster, this album is its antithesis: a constantly engaging and intriguing collection without a weak moment.
As soon as the deep, booming bass drone drops 20 seconds into album-opener ‘Brennisteinn’, it’s obvious that this isn’t going to be like anything the band have released before, and this heavy bass and pounding percussion pervades the record as a whole, adding a sense of urgency and drama.
‘Brennisteinn’ ensures the listener is giving their full attention from the very start, with frontman Jón Þór Birgisson’s ethereal vocals contrasting brilliantly with the distorted, fuzzy noise of the backdrop, accompanied by fuzzy guitar work.
The beauty of Birgisson’s vocals have always been complemented by the fact that most listeners have no idea what he’s singing about, they are more than able to serve as another instrument of soaring falsettos, somehow managing to be both expansive and deeply intimate, and this becomes even more evident when contrasted with the heavier instrumentation of Kveikur.
There is light to juxtapose the shade though in the effortlessly enjoyable sounds of ‘Stormur’, which is havily reminiscent of lighter songs from 2005’s Takk.
It typically takes quite a few listens to fully understand and appreciate the Europeans’ carefully crafted songs, but this isn’t the case with this latest release; it doesn’t require deep concentration or complete isolation to ‘get it’, bur rather is instantly engaging, and perhaps the album that the band have always wanted to make.
For an act that’s been around for nearly 20 years, it’s impressive that Sigur Rós are still developing and adapting their sound. Kveikur sees the band’s most significant, and successful change yet, introducing a darker, heavier sound that ensures they remain as interesting and relevant as ever.
