Sigur Rós - Ný Batterí
(Fat Cat)
A smart reviewer would see the obvious lead in to this review and avoid it
like the plague. Thank God, for once, it pays to be dumb. Someone smart
would not demean Sigur Rós' artistic integrity so much as to base a review
of them around the fact that they sound a lot like Godspeed You Black Emperor!,
especially since both bands have been around for about the same amount of time.
However, really, there's no better way to describe this Icelandic quartet.
This 24 minute EP starts off with two versions of the title track, "Ný Batterí"
("New Battery"). The first version, titled "Rafmagnið Búið" (or
"Electricity Over"), is a short remix of the horn section of the
song; the title of the song, of course, implying all the electric instruments
have been removed. The song gradually builds in volume, going from barely
audible to average volume, as trumpet and flute flutter and moan. Similar to
one of those old Mogwai remixes, breath sounds from the players become
secondary instruments in the remix. The second version is the original version
which you will also find on their latest full length, Ágætis Byrjun,
which currently is only available in Iceland (UK release in July). The song
follows the standard formula of having about 5 minutes of quiet music:
nice Cocteau Twins-ish singing (if someone compares this band to any band on
4AD, know they are really only comparing the singing) atop bass and horns,
before the rock drumming starts, which sends the song into a louder, fuller,
noiser section that lasts a couple minutes. The pairing and
ordering of these tracks on the EP works, allowing the remix to act as an
extended intro to the LP version of the song.
The third song is "Bíum Bíum Bambaló," the band's version of a
traditional Icelandic lullaby that supposedly has never been recorded (yeah,
right), instead passed down orally, generation by generation. The song and
singing are sweet and pretty, basically following the same formula as the
previous track, focusing on the vocals for the first few minutes before leading
into a more instrumental, fuller part.
For the final track, "Dánarfregnir Og Jarðarfarir," Sigur Rós
takes a cue from The Shipping News and offers theme music for one of Iceland's
public funded radio broadcasts, the daily announcement of the recently deceased
and their funeral plans, "Dánarfregnir Og Jarðarfarir" roughly translating
to "Death Announcements & Funerals." If "Bíum Bíum Bambaló"
sounds as if it is from f#a#infinity, then "Dánarfregnir Og Jarðarfarir"
would be from Slow Riot for a New Zero Kanada. A very soft intro is followed
by loud rock guitars. This instrumental is the best song on the EP; the melody
is both beautiful and somber, matching well the intent for the song, and the
song has true ebb and flow instead of simply following one giant crescendo.
So, really, there are probably 100 bands you could compare Sigur Rós to,
Godspeed just being the easiest at the moment. Their singing may put them more
in the ballpark of the early 90s 4AD bands, combine their Godspeedability and
choice of instruments and you may end up with a Do Make Say Think comparison,
combine the singing and the tempo and you may end up with a Low comparison.
Whatever. Bottomline, if you are looking for music that can come close to
meeting GYBE in the grandeur and pageantry of their arrangements,
Ný Batterí is worthy of your time.
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