I’ve never been much of a minimalist fan. It generally tends to make me irritated or frustrated, rather than relaxed or entertained. It just doesn’t really seem to have any rhyme or reason. Or a bass line, for that matter.
So far these reasons alone have steered me away from the ever-growing and ever-popular Sigur Ros. Seems daft really but, hey, I’m a crabbit journalist and I’ve heard it all before. Right?
Wrong. Valtari isn’t just minimalist post-rock type-cast, it’s probably one of the most emotional and moving albums I have listened to in a long time. I didn’t think I’d be joining in with the hype for these guys but they really are something else. Valtari is Sigur Ros‘s sixth studio album, released this week via XL Recordings, and while I may not be a convert to their genre, I’m certainly impressed.
Not that they’ve been hiding in the shadows since their Icelandic beginnings in 1994 – their fan-base is a loyal one and it continues to multiply. Their sound has been described in a myriad of ways, from ethereal to majestic, yet they have managed to maintain a place in the music industry that no-one else quite manages to fill.
While the minimalism in each and every track of Valtari may still infuriate and confuse your somewhat stick-in-the-mud reviewer, it is still a very beautiful and well produced piece of music. Opening track Eg Anda begins so simply and harmoniously you almost feel like you could wade into the ocean and allow yourself to float away – that is, until a much stronger and prominent instrumental jars with the light harmonies, making you want to get the hell out of the water and go home. It’s a strange mix but that’s always been my problem with the whole idea of minimalism. It just doesn’t follow the “music criteria”. That’s probably the point.
Then comes Ekki Mukk, which starts off sounding like an old LP that’s run its course on the player, crackling away until beautiful (and non-decipherable) vocals bring the track to life. I say beautiful, but what I really mean is a little eerie. They are so angelic they almost transcend the speaker and sit in the room with you. It’s a brilliant feeling but one that takes getting used to.
It’s probably worth noting that all of the tracks on Valtari are typically minimalist. The intros are simple and light, while one by one more and more instruments are added to the mix, often resulting in a mesh of noise, with no crescendo. Not everyone’s cup of tea perhaps, but this album wasn’t made for a party. It wasn’t even made for a bar. You can’t help feeling that the band intended this album to be actively listened to, despite sounding very much like background music or theme music 99 per cent of the time.
On the Sigur Ros website, bassist Georg Holm said of Valtari: “It’s the only Sigur Ros record I have listened to for pleasure in my own house after we finished it.”
To sit down and really listen to music isn’t something most of us has time to do every day, but this record makes it worthwhile. Some of the tracks, like Dauoalogn, Fjogur Piano and Varoeldur – which begins with a sound similar to that of a child’s music box – just emanate a melancholy nostalgia that can lead to a very emotional listening experience. (Helpful Hint: Do not listen to when depressed, you won’t be here in the morning).
Overall though, this is a sweet and beautiful album. Even better, it doesn’t have to be your “thing” to be an enjoyable listening experience. Lovely.
[Rating:3]
