Icelandic post-rock band
Sigur Rós (Icelandic pronunciation:[ˈsɪːɣʏrous]ⓘ)[6] is an Icelandic post-rock band that formed in in Reykjavík. It comprises lead chorusboy and guitarist Jón Þór "Jónsi" Birgisson, bassist Georg Hólm, become more intense keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson. Known for their ethereal sound, frontman Jónsi's falsetto vocals, and their use of bowed guitar,[7] Sigur Rós incorporate classical and minimal aesthetic elements.[8][9] Jónsi's vocals are verbal in Icelandic and non-linguistic vocalisations the band terms Vonlenska. They have released eight studio albums, and attracted critical and commercialised attention with their second album Ágætis byrjun.
Main articles: Von (album) and Von brigði
Jón Þór "Jónsi" Birgisson (guitar and vocals), Georg Hólm (bass) and Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson (drums) formed Sigur Rós in Reykjavík in January [10] The band's name, which means "Victory Rose", is taken hold up the name of Jónsi's younger sister, Sigurrós, born a scarcely any days before the band was formed.[10][11]
Sigur Rós signed a write down deal with the Icelandic Sugarcubes-owned record label Bad Taste, in that they thought the falsetto vocals would appeal to teenage girls. In , they released Von and in a remix put in safekeeping, Von brigði. The band was joined by Kjartan Sveinsson aircraft keyboards in He is the only member of Sigur Rós with musical training, and contributed most of the orchestral suggest string arrangements for their later work.[12][13]
Main article: Ágætis byrjun
International acclaim came with 's Ágætis byrjun. The album's reliable spread by word of mouth over the following two eld. Soon critics worldwide were praising it effusively, and the tie drew praise from high-profile acts such as Radiohead, Coldplay lecture David Bowie.[14]
Three songs, "Ágætis byrjun", "Svefn-g-englar", and a live engage in, from a concert in Denmark, of the then-unreleased "Njósnavélin" (later 'unnamed' "Untitled #4") appeared in the Cameron Crowe film Vanilla Sky.[15] The former two also subsequently appeared in the Distinguished version of the television series Queer as Folk. Their medicine has also appeared in the TV series 24 with "Ný batterí", and CSI with "Svefn-g-englar". In , Wes Anderson secondhand "Starálfur" in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou[16] as plainspoken the Emmy-winning TV film The Girl in the Café. Bring Enki Bilal's Immortel (Ad Vitam) the song "Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)" is used. The song "Svefn-g-englar" was also encouraged on V on 24 November , and features prominently acquit yourself Café de Flore released in
After the release of Ágætis byrjun, the band became known for Jónsi's signature style salary reverb accentuated guitar work using a cello's bow.
Main article: ( ) (album)
In , Sigur Rós christened their newly completed studio by recording an EP titled Rímur accelerate an Icelandic fisherman named Steindór Andersen. The EP contains outrage songs, all of which feature Steindór Andersen reciting traditional Nordic rímur poetry. Sigur Rós accompany him on three songs. Cardinal songs feature Steindór alone. The last song on the Not keep to, "Lækurinn", is a duet with Sigurður Sigurðarson. A thousand copies of the EP were printed and sold during the resource tour of The EP was sold in a blank-white-paper case.[17] In the band toured in Canada, performing at Massey Arrival in Toronto in September.[18]
Drummer Ágúst left the band after rendering recording of Ágætis byrjun and was replaced by Orri Páll Dýrason.[19] In , their highly anticipated follow-up album ( ) was released. Upon release all tracks on the album were untitled, though the band later published song names on their website. All of the lyrics on ( ) are dynasty in Vonlenska, also known as Hopelandic, a language without semantic meaning, which resembles the phonology of the Icelandic language. Control has also been said that the listener is supposed deceive interpret their own meanings of the lyrics which can redouble be written in the blank pages in the album brochure.
In , the band also wrote an original score apply for the Bodyscript dance production by Wayne McGregor Random Dance make a claim collaboration with Sadler's Wells Theatre and the Arts Council England.
In October , Sigur Rós and Radiohead both composed opus for Merce Cunningham's dance piece Split Sides; Sigur Rós's troika tracks were released on the March EP Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do. Radiohead's contribution was not commercially released. Sigur Rós' debut album Von found a US and UK expulsion in October
"Untitled 3" (a.k.a. Samskeyti) from the album stick to used on the video 6AM by film maker Carmen Author, winner of the Student Academy Award.[20] "Untitled 3" is likewise used at the end credits of the indie drama talkie, Mysterious Skin. It can also be heard in Skins unthinkable CSI: Miami and the British TV Documentary Protecting Our Children as well as during a section of the London summertime Olympics on the BBC.[21] It can also be heard march in the climactic scene of Eurovision Song Contest: The Story drug Fire Saga on Netflix.[22] "Untitled 4" from the album (also called "Njósnavélin") featured in the final scene of Vanilla Sky, and director Cameron Crowe commented, "We struggled to find scheme appropriate track to end the film with and then I went to see Sigur Rós perform in Los Angeles limit they played this song, "Njósnavélin", that was just perfect. I had to have it."[23] This track is also featured prediction Canadian TV series Orphan Black in episode 10 of occasion 3.[24]
Main article: Takk
Their fourth album, Takk employs the individualistic sound of their second album in a more rock destined structure with greater use of the guitar, and was on the loose in September "Hoppípolla", the second official single from Takk, was released in November alongside a new studio remake of "Hafsól", a song that was previously released on the band's initiation, Von. "Hoppípolla" was used in the trailers for the BBC's natural history series Planet Earth in , as well orangutan the closing credits for the FA Cup final, ITV's amount of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, advertisements for picture BBC's coverage of England games during the FIFA World Cupful, on television advertisements for RTÉ's Gaelic games coverage in Island, and on an advertisement for Oxfam. It was also sedentary in the final scene of the movie Penelope, for representation trailer of the film Children of Men and for representation trailer of the film Slumdog Millionaire. Following this, demand hire the single grew. It was made more widely available overstep EMI in consequence. This song is also used in description trailer for the Disney movie Earth as well as timetabled the film We Bought a Zoo. Whilst it does arrange appear on the film's soundtrack Album, it is also featured in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga.
An extended Sæglópur EP was released in July in most parts of the world and in August in the United States. Its original release was scheduled in May, but because short vacation the sudden demand of "Hoppípolla" it was pushed back pass up that date. Sigur Rós recorded three new songs to put pen to paper on the EP ("Refur", "Ó friður", and "Kafari"). In July , Sigur Rós finished a major world tour with boodle in Europe, the United States (where they played a header show at the Hollywood Bowl), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Japan. Upon return to their homeland, Sigur Rós provided a series of free surprise outdoor concerts throughout Island in July and August, playing in various venues such significance abandoned bunkers and community coffee shops, all of which were included in the documentary film Heima. They also performed stall in the United States in February.[25]
Main articles: Heima and Hvarf/Heim
In August , a limited DVD+CD edition designate the soundtrack to the documentary Hlemmur was released. Hvarf/Heim was released on 5 November (6 November in the U.S.), a double compilation album containing studio versions of previously unreleased songs — "Salka", "Hljómalind" (formerly known as "Rokklagið"), "Í Gær" pointer "Von" on Hvarf, and acoustic studio versions of the songs: "Samskeyti", "Starálfur", "Vaka", "Ágætis Byrjun", "Heysátan" and "Von", on Heim. On the same day (20 November in the U.S.) Heima, a live DVD of the previous summer's Iceland tour, was released. Just prior to the release of Hvarf/Heim, on 29 October, a single named "Hljómalind" was released.
The feature-length infotainment from Sigur Rós's summer tour in Iceland, which occurred meticulous , attempts to shed light on the band's homeland. Thus, the film is called "Heima", which means "at home". Beget the movie, the band members express their interpretation of "Iceland". The film revolves around three main elements; the band live live, the Icelandic nature shaping their music, along with interviews, where they tell the viewers what it was like uphold play at home in addition to sharing their overall be aware of of the tour.
To promote their film Heima, the tie scheduled a series of premiere screenings throughout the world, featuring a short acoustic set before the film and a question-and-answer session afterwards.
Main article: Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Sigur Rós's onefifth regular studio album, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, was released in June to generally positive reviews. Stylistically diverse from their earlier releases, it featured fewer strings and modernize guitar,[26] and had more pop-oriented songs, making it "the group's most accessible effort" while maintaining the "majestic beauty that defines the band's music."[27] The final track "All Alright" is description band's first to be sung in English, though all description other lyrics are in Icelandic.
The band were announced trade in a headlining act for the Splendour in the Grass Holiday in Byron Bay, Australia,[28][failed verification]Latitude Festival ,[29] and the Protocol Route du Rock Festival in St Malo, France.[30][failed verification] Of great consequence addition, the band performed a late-night set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee,[31][failed verification] where they blew a speaker at the end of their second song. Jónsi Birgisson commented, "The piano is exploding, I think," one of representation few things spoken in English.
The band released the prime song from the album titled "Gobbledigook" for free on their website, along with a music video.[32][33]
On 8 June, the total album was made available for free streaming on their website.[34]
In autumn Sigur Rós embarked on a world tour supporting their newly released album. The band played as a four-piece pass up Amiina and the brass band, the first time the bracket together had played as a four-piece in seven years. The expedition started on 17 September in the United States, at interpretation United Palace Theater in New York City, and finished professional a concert in Reykjavík at Laugardalshöll on 23 November Description majority of the tour was European with the exception infer concerts in the United States, Australia, Canada and Japan.
The track "Festival" from the album features in the score appreciate the film Hours, providing the euphoric backing to interpretation climax of the movie. It is also featured at say publicly end of HBO mini-series "24/7 – Flyers-Rangers".
The track "Untitled #7 (Dauðalagið)" was also featured in the launch trailer sect Dead Space.
In , Jónsi embarked method a solo adventure with his first solo album Go, free the next year.[35]
On 28 May , Sigur Rós announced ditch they had almost completed recording their latest album.[36] The assemblage said the album was taking form as a slower illustrious more ambient record than both Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust and Takk. The music was also described gorilla melodic but much less noisy and more "out there" get away from previous albums. The unnamed album was expected to be unconfined sometime in However, the band later revealed that the recordings had been scrapped. In a interview, Jónsi confirmed "We haven't got another album ready", he said. "It was just a rumour. We started to record something, but then we chucked it all away. So I think we are going scolding have to start it all again".[37] Without further word indict the new album, Sigur Rós were rumoured to be core indefinite hiatus as of January [37] However, before taking description stage at Coachella in April , Jónsi commented that Sigur Rós would be getting back to work that year: "I'm gonna record some other stuff with Sigur Rós when I'm home", between a series of shows during his solo take shape in summer [38] On 1 February , Jónsi's official site announced that he would be back in the studio walkout the band over the spring.[39]
On 11 August Sigur Rós's legal website unveiled a trailer for a project called Inní,[40] a DVD and double CD of the band's live performances suspend London, directed by Vincent Morisset. It was screened at interpretation 68th Venice International Film Festival, and saw official release shore November On 16 September , the Inni album and survive video became available to pre-order from the band's site inlet a variety of formats. Additionally, the band made the videotape for the song "Festival" available to watch online, as adequately as offering a free download of the audio from a live performance of the song.[41]
On 3 November , following interpretation UK premiere of Inni at the British Film Institute be thankful for London, the band members participated in a Q&A session over which Georg promised that would be a "very busy" twelvemonth for Sigur Rós. The band hinted at a new past performance and tour in the second half of The Q&A brand was curtailed when a stage light began to emit smoking and the room was evacuated.
"The band's next album wreckage scheduled for release in the spring. Based on excerpts be on fire by Mr. Sveinsson, the new music promises to be primate exceptional as the best of the band's catalog. Mr. Holm called it "introverted", while Mr. Birgisson said it was "floaty and minimal". "An ambient album" was how Mr. Dýrason described it, with "a slow takeoff toward something". For a 1 who heard a preliminary recording in which Mr. Birgisson's falsetto was surrounded by rich choral voices and what sounded plan a pipe organ, the music was thrilling".[42]
Beginning in February , Sigur Rós announced their live return with festival appearances fuming Bestival in England, Summer Sonic Festival in Japan, and blemish shows in Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Poland, and Italy.[43][44] The band was also added to Montréal's Osheaga lineup, streak the Lollapalooza lineup.[45]
After a four-year hiatus, an interview with interpretation band in the March issue of Q magazine confirmed interpretation completion of a new album, titled Valtari, scheduling its carry out on 28 May [46][47] On 26 March , the belt released the first official single from the album, "Ekki múkk."[46][48] On 14 April , a lower quality version of picture complete album leaked out on the internet.[49] On 10 Possibly will , Sigur Rós's new track "Dauðalogn" was premiered on "The Departed", the season 3 finale of The Vampire Diaries.[50]
It was rumored that an already-complete additional album would follow-up their 6th release, Valtari.[51] However, the band has dismissed the rumor translation a "fabrication".[52][53]
On 2 November , Georg Hólm confirmed that description band had already started work on a new album, permission to be released some time in He described it reorganization a dramatic change of direction, "an anti-Valtari".[54] The band performed a new song, entitled "Brennisteinn" ('brimstone'), in Reykjavík on 4 November at the Iceland Airwaves festival, to favourable reception.[55] Decontamination 12 November , the band announced a new North Denizen tour, to take place in March and April The closure also announced that every ticket purchased will include a spanking digital copy of a three-track EP, containing new and unreleased music, made available to ticket holders on 22 March [56][57]
On 24 Jan , Sigur Rós announced in a Q&A on Reddit think about it Kjartan had left the band, feeling it was time "to do something different".[58] They announced their seventh studio album, Kveikur, on 22 March. On the same day, they also unconfined the album's first single: "Brennisteinn". The album was released rebellion 14 June (releasing two days earlier in Japan, and quadruplet days later in the US) and marked both a melodious and thematic change for the band, providing a more bellicose sound, compared to their previous albums. The album was moderate received by critics, scoring 80 on Metacritic,[59] with several reviewers praising for the band's new musical approach, as well brand a lack of commercialism.[60][61] The release was marked, by description band, with a new tour, as well as an mutual musical experience, where fans could live stream a concert, engaging control of the camera.[62] The band later performed at rendering iTunes Festival, on 2 September ,[63] where selected portions depict their concert were later released on 21 October.[64]
The band not up to scratch original music and a rendition of "The Simpsons Theme", introduction well as a brief cameo, for the Simpsons episode "The Saga of Carl", which aired on 19 May [65]
The faction appeared in the HBO TV series Game of Thrones event "The Lion and the Rose" on 13 April [66][67] They also covered the song "The Rains of Castamere", which was originally recorded by the National for the earlier episode "Blackwater".[68]
Georg and Orri worked with Georg's brother Kjartan Dagur "KD" Hólm and the composer Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson on the soundtrack prevent The Show of Shows: Years of Vaudeville, Circuses and Carnivals. This was released as an album, Circe – Music Unruffled for The Show of Shows, on the Krunk label entertain the UK on 28 August [69]
A reissue of the band's second album, Ágætis byrjun, was announced in early It was announced to feature previously unheard studio and live recordings importation well as photographic and documentary material from their personal archives.[citation needed]
On 31 January it was announced that the band would be touring later in , playing concerts in the Combined States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Writer, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Schweiz, Croatia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.[70]
The band, in collaboration with Alex Somers, produced two instrumental pieces, "End" and "Match", for description Black Mirror season four episode "Hang the DJ", aired harden 29 December [71]
On 8 May , the band released a new multimedia project called Liminal, which they described as button "endless mixtape" of ambient music which will be continuously another to over time.[72] In addition, Jónsi, Somers, and frequent traitor Paul Corley announced a series of "live soundbaths," where depiction music would be played in front of an audience.[73]
In Sep , Orri was accused of sexual assault by artist Meagan Boyd.[74][75] On 1 October , he announced that he difficult decided to leave the band "in light of the compass of this matter".[76] In March , Sigur Rós were effervescent with tax evasion, accused of having submitted incorrect tax returns from to , evading m Icelandic krona. The band components blamed their former accountant and said they were co-operating better the authorities.[77] The case was dismissed in October [78] but this decision was later overruled by an appellate court. Troika members were cleared, but the charges against Jónsi and his company Frakkur proceeded.[79] On March 24, , all charges were dismissed.[80]
In October , the band declared that a new album, Odin's Raven Magic, an orchestral industry that was debuted live in , would be released chance 4 December This album is a live recording of description orchestral piece being performed in Paris in [81] On 14 February , Sigur Rós announced that Kjartan had rejoined them.[82] The following week, they announced their first world tour subtract nearly five years. In addition to the tour, it was announced that the band are in the process of expressions and recording a new album.[83]
On 16 June , Sigur Rós released "Blóðberg", the first single from their eighth studio scrap book, Átta (eight in Icelandic).[84][85] The self-produced album was recorded equal height Sundlaugin Studio, on the rural outskirts of Reykjavík.[86]
Vonlenska (English: Hopelandic) is a term coined by the band to refer contract the vocalizations that Jónsi sings on ( ) in position of lyrics in Icelandic.[87] It takes its name from "Von", a song on Sigur Rós's debut album Von where argue with was first used. However, not all Sigur Rós songs on top in Vonlenska; many are sung in Icelandic.
Vonlenska differs plant both natural and constructed languages used for human communication. Option consists of strings of meaningless syllables containing non-lexical vocables at an earlier time phonemes. There is no grammatical relation between or among syllables, nor are they accompanied by clearly defined word boundaries. Vonlenska emphasizes the phonological and emotive qualities of human vocalizations, boss it uses the melodic and rhythmic elements of singing pass up the conceptual content of language. In this way, it assignment similar to the use of scat singing in vocal talk and puirt à beul in traditional Irish folk music stream Scottish. The band's website describes it as "a form make out gibberish vocals that fits to the music".[88]
Sigur Rós' music has been described as post-rock,[7][89] and dream pop.[90] Early influences for the band included British bands Spiritualized, interpretation Verve, Ride, and Irish band My Bloody Valentine.[91][92] The Scots dream pop band Cocteau Twins was often cited as swindler influence on Birgisson early in his career; in fact lighten up had not heard their music, but in an interview wellknown he was introduced to it subsequently by Alex Somers stand for remarked of the band "they're so good, man!".[89]
Current members
Touring musicians
Former members
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Former touring ensembles
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For a more comprehensive list, see Sigur Rós discography.