Live Review: Sigur Ros at the Florence Gould Hall [NY,10.06.07]

Sigur Ros are human, I saw them with my own eyes. They even spoke to us in english. Not to knock their second language speaking skills, it's just that with their hopelandish-branded vocals and immersive, ethereal soundscapes , I always likened them to winged beings such as that depicted on the cover of Agaetis Byrjun.

Attendees of the US premiere of Heima, Sigur Ros's '06 Icelandic tour documentary, were allowed a glimpse at the musicians and treated to a rare acoustic performance, sans backing band Amiina or other orchestral accompaniment. Hearing them in this context - a piano, two acoustic guitars and a drum kit the only instruments on stage - revealed the relatively conventional songs the band have seemingly been writing all along. Having heard their music for years obscured by layers of long reverb tails and feedback, the clarity of simple compositions with unaffected melodies was elating.

The film was shown after an unfortunately brief three song set (the word "brief" attributed to three minimal, eight minute songs attests to the awe of their performance), and provided a gorgeous, revealing portrait of the band, their eclectic audience, and the Icelandic landscape. It documents the group's travels throughout Iceland after a world tour, organizing free shows in tiny, secluded towns to play for young and old. The film's style shares the bands sincerity, at times awkward (in the best of ways) nature, and idealistic vision of connecting each other. It's actually about as human as it gets.

[Photo by Adam Weinberg]