Label: XL Recordings

Release Date: November 2007

Sigur Ros- Hvarf-Heim
Matthew Ralph

I debated whether or not to purchase this record when it came out, but in the end the pretty packaging and the fact that it was a new Sigur Ros release -- regardless of how un-new the songs on it were -- convinced me it was a worthwhile expense.

Playing through the two discs in succession on heavy rotation has proved that. From a realistic point of view, calling this a "new" release is a bit misleading.

Between the two CD's, there are three previously unreleased tracks each recorded between 1999 and 2002 on Hvarf or "haven" as it is translated. The song "Von" appears on both records. Everything else has been released elsewhere, albeit in a slightly different format. Heim (translated as Home) features six acoustic versions of songs from the band's four studio records. Though the songs are familiar, there is something special about the slight nuances of hearing the songs with a more stripped down approach.

There is something special about hearing the slide of the hand on the acoustic strings, the rattle of the drums and the soothing sounds of the piano playing what could be characterized as some of Sigur Ros' already proven hits.

Not that Sigur Ros is the type of band that's described as having hit singles. Known for their lush soundscapes and gibberish singing that sounds like deep poetry layered over top rich instrumentation, Sigur Ros is best taken in large doses.

This release just happens to click with that advice, clocking in at about 70 minutes. In the end, the double-disc accomplishes three things -- it tides fans over until the release of the next studio album, gives three new songs to sink their teeth into and reminds them that it's still okay to use cliche phrases like "best band in the world" to describe them.

Not even an interview this bad could change that in my mind.

posted [12.06.07]

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