Ágætis byrjun - Sigur Rós (1999)

Ideated From: “Essential winter albums” on Treble

Wikipedia says the population of Iceland is 371,000, and it feels like each and every one of them is in a band. This tiny nation has had maybe the most outsized effect on the world of music. I know: Jamaica, Ireland. I’m not here to argue with you.

The point is, Iceland has an amazing musical tradition across many styles and genres. But if there’s one thing they’re known for musically, it’s “winter music” paying homage to the lonely, desolate, cold, and beautiful.

The record is only the band’s second, but they seem to have fully realized their vision already. The songs use string arrangements, piano, and synth-sounding guitar effects to slowly build each soundscape. When you do hear more traditional rock instruments, they stand out from the exquisite haze even more sharply. The vocals are piercing and beautiful.

I looked at the lyrics, but it involves translations from Icelandic, and, as one translator notes in a comment, “Sigurros lysics doesn’t meke sense in icelandic ether !” Reading further, I found that the track “Olsen olsen” is in fact not in Icelandic at all, but just a stylized form of phonetic nonsense that singer Jonsi would use for their whole next album.

A beautiful, frozen slab of winter music.

Tracks I Liked:

Svefn-g-englar - a really stunning piece of work; one of their most recognizable for how often it’s been used in other media.

Flugufrelsarinn - a luscious bass groove with some of the most up-front vocals

Viðrar vel til loftárása - apparently means “good weather for an airstrike” (which I would say is some Icelandic Metal shit, except that Icelandic metal is its own thing and also awesome). A straight-no-chaser post-rock build and explode exercise