Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun

How does one describe a record like Agaetis Byrjun? It’s become commonplace to reference geysers and glaciers, as if this was some sort of national statement. Presumably if the Icelanders had hailed from Munich we’d be told instead that it was reminiscent of pigtails, weissbier and Gerd Muller. The truth is that this is a nightmare record to adequately convey a sense of. If at times it sounds like the birth of Spring, it also sounds like the end of the world – all subtle majesty and crashing chord intros. That might not sound like it should make sense but then, on this record, nothing seems like it should work and yet it operates with perfect balance, and stunning success. (Barry Glynn)