New Vibrations - Hvarf-Heim Sigur Rós XL Recordings Nov. 6, 2007

Sigur Rós, the Icelandic post-rock band, has been touring across the world to promote their new documentary Heima, meaning "home," recording a number of "open-air" performances in the summer of 2006. As a companion to the release of the film, Sigur Rós has turned out a two-disc album titled Hvarf-Heim, which includes a number of unreleased songs and live acoustic versions of songs from the first few albums.Sigur Rós is known for its rich, melodically elaborate music and this album is representative of their unique sound. Hvarf, which means "disappointment" or "haven," consists of five songs never-before released. In some cases, it is difficult to ascertain why Sigur Rós did not include a specific song on an album. This is definitely true with respect to, "I gaer" ("Yesterday") that is tinged with the sound of progressive rock, a style that the band experimented with for a brief period and later abandoned. While still maintaining their signature sound, "Í g??r" is certainly more dramatic and aggressive than many of Sigur Rós's more recognizable songs."Hafsol" is a live favorite that for some unknown reason, Sigur Rós chose never to release on any CD. "Hafsól" uses innovative ways of playing the electric guitar, such as using a drum stick as a bow. Anthem-like, "Hafsól" gradually builds on itself in a nearly 10-minute ascendence to a distinctly Sigur Rós's meshing cacophony."Salka" was a candidate for the ( ) album but didn't make it. Although the music is quite elegant, the overlaid whining lyrics (Sigur Rós's only potential flaw in general), distracts from the beauty of the track and ended up being a tad headache-inducing.In the second album, Sigur Rós comes back to the basics - each song is an acoustic version of an earlier work. It is quite surprising how the unplugging of an amp can so greatly change a piece of music. "Samskeyti," the first song on the album, is a purely instrumental song, unusual for Sigur Rós, and the circular notes of the piano shine through the rich harmonies."Starálfur" is the most approachable song on the album. Sometimes Sigur Rós's intricate melodies can be very intense and difficult to comprehend, even for the most seasoned fans, but "Starálfur" is more easily appreciated. The combination of waving piano notes and classic acoustic guitar makes this track simplistic but never boring.Sigur Rós chose to record "Heysátan" out in the middle of nowhere in Iceland. Surrounded by nature, Sigur Rós could achieve the mood of this song about a happy death in isolation. Powered by the lyrics, an unusual song construction for Sigur Rós, this piece is grounded in a steady repetition of chords, but never trudges. The hesitant ending of the track indeed creates a sense of unresolved tension.The disc ends with an acoustic version of "Von" which is probably the most beautiful song on the album in its delicate ethereality. It is incredibly fitting to finish Hvarf-Heim, a double-disc album meant to capture the essence of the band, with a piece so indicative of Sigur Rós's uniquely fascinating style.