After reviewing the new Sigur Rós album, I wrote a separate review for the lead single 'Gobbledigook'. The song is not typical of the new album but does capture the feel - more playful and light than 'Takk...'.
The review:
Iceland has always been known for its eccentric musicians and Sigur Rós are no exception. The band's music, defined by the fragile indigenous vocals of Jon Thor Birgisson, has an ethereal alien quality which verges on the epically orchestral while remaining delicate and restrained. This is what made 'Takk...', the band's 2005 masterpiece, such a commercial success.
'Gobbledigook' (the name probably eludes to the band's tendency to sing in their own invented language, Hopelanish) is the first single and opening song from the album 'Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust' (translated as 'With A Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly') and is an atypical Sigur Rós song. The band are not known for writing three minute pop songs, but that is what they have created. Opening with a mess of acoustic guitars and la-la-la vocals coupled with tribal drumming, the song quickly takes shape when Birgisson's voice adds structure. Even through the persistent barrage of drums and guitar, there are some wonderful moments and effective use of backing vocal harmonies, especially near the end. Much of Sigur Rós' music relies on rising and falling and intricate arrangements but here it just sounds like a band having fun.
'Gobbledigook' is an interesting single which does little to showcase the album. But it is something different and unexpected even if it does feel 'purpose built'. The alternative is a radio-edit of a much longer song and we all know they never work.
-- CS (for The Music Magazine 2008)
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