Named after singer Jonsi Birgisson’s baby niece, Sigur Rós reside in Reykjavik, Iceland, but might as well be from Neptune. Their otherworldly soundscapes sound utterly alien, though there are some recognizable elements of Talk Talk, Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine. At least if they were blitzed out of their minds on frozen peppermint schnapps, strapped to a whale that’s constantly emerging and submerging in the icy arctic waters. Ironically, there are similarities to Radiohead’s Kid A, though Sigur Rós beat them to the punch on their 1997 debut, Von. One might think a lot of techno trickery is involved, but it’s all organic guitars, violin bows, sticks and skin. Even their keyboards are built of wood.
Ágaetis Byrjun (A Good Start) marks a flare in the Western pop firmament that hopefully will not be a fluke. Here is a band whose vocalist sings in a made-up language in a high-pitched androgynous voice, whose songs are glacially paced and crushingly melancholy, yet manages to sound oddly uplifting without any ironic self-consciousness. A lesson well learned from countrywoman Björk. And judging from the healthy creative atmosphere in Iceland, such as the Kitchen Motors collective, there will be more pleasant surprises to come.
April 2, 2026
Fester’s Lucky 13: 1986
February 27, 2026
Fester’s Lucky 13: 1976
