Valtari by Sigur Ros free essay sample

Some artists are like poignant downpours. They construct the music that plays at our most pivotal moments, when the seasons change and people walk out of our lives. These musicians are gifted beyond the textbook definition; they may not be virtuosos of their instruments, but they go further – they understand music and its relation to the human soul. Sigur Ros is one of those bands. The Icelandic quartet caught the attention of the music world in 1999 with their third album â€Å"Ag?tis byrjun,† translated as â€Å"an all right start.† Critics gave it widespread acclaim, and it was named to numerous â€Å"best of† lists. This breakthrough was followed by a handful of albums, each unique and foreign to American audiences including 2002s â€Å"(),† sung entirely in a gibberish language created by the band. Listeners are encouraged to decipher the meaning, and write their translations in the blank CD booklet. This year marked Sigur Ross highly anticipated sixth studio album, â€Å"Valtari. We will write a custom essay sample on Valtari by Sigur Ros or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † It had been four years since their last offering, and listeners were eager to hear what the mysterious four had been working on. Fans anticipation climbed following bassist Georg Holms remarks that â€Å"its the only Sigur Ros record I have listened to for pleasure after weve finished it.† And after hearing it, I cant help but agree. This record bleeds unconventional optimism. Beneath the bands calling card of haunting music cascading with gentle sadness, there is light. Its subtle, but unmistakable. It mirrors life itself; there is no denying the pure beauty as well as the darkness in this world. On the title track, a ghostly melody plays over impressionist echos and winds, as if â€Å"Valtari† is the Earths lullaby. On â€Å"Varu?,† piano chords  ­repeat beneath soaring vocals, singing a language most listeners do not understand, but simply feel. It sinks into your skin, around your heart, through your brain. The album is storytelling with music, and what magnificent raconteurs they are. Eight tracks, between five and nine minutes each, carve their own path to some of the most scintillating sounds possible. In the silent moments after the closing track, â€Å"Fjogur piano† (four pianos), its as if the Earth has stopped rotating, giving the listener a brief sliver of time to truly realize the beauty of the world.