Waaaay back at the very beginning of this review project I railed against Takk as too-samey. And on a recent trawl through Sigur Ros's discography I mostly stand by that. They're a conundrum of a band, ever the same, but at least trying to batter against every wall of the cell that Aegeay Bergantjjjjn built.
(Untitled) hitched itself to its climaxing structure and singleminded vocals, Takk indulged in strings, Meo Suo went Animal Collective jangle-drums. Piano's the centerpiece of choice this time around, and its a natural fit -- the earthy, rounded vibration puts that spacey Hopelanders down in the dirt where they can transmit bottom-up. It's a return to form that doesn't actually sound *that* much like their breakthrough, if you listen closely.
Valtari also draws into relief the band's ball and chain: Jonsi's vocals. Sigur Ros can never not sound like Sigur Ros with that keening sound lording so large over top. Truth his, his vocals are exhausting (doubly so on Untitled) and the fact that they disappear for most of the last 3 songs on this album are actually the best thing about it.
I've confessed before that I actually don't like Loveless -- those sheer guitars gut the subtle textures, wreck the balance. The same goes for those vocals. Let to drift, some of the band's prettiest moments shine through. Not quite something new, not quite a return to form, but maybe the purest reflection a band that's otherwise been hard to get a good look at 4/5
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