Ahead of its time and the foundation to what Sigur Ros would later become, their recently released first album from 1997, Von is a minimal based record that creeps in and out of itself like a soundtrack. Coming from the Icelandic home of Bjork, though quite different musically, original members vocalist Jon Thor Birgisson, bassist Georg Holm, and drummer Agust were on the right path with this album in creating a sprawling sound. Birgisson’s voice comes through like a choirboy floating in space in the opening song.
On “Hún Jöro” the band quickly makes the transition from bordering on new age to full-on rock band building the song on guitar and showing some rock chops rather than solely depending on synth created ambiance. They add in some distorted vocals that sound more industrial (anyone remember Nine Inch Nails?) giving them an edgier sound than the dreamy soundscapes they are known for.
The album as a whole goes in and out of songs that some might say are reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine. The difference being Sigur Ros having undistinguishable vocals, which have helped shape their sound. While the few actual songs they have almost highlight the album and take the music to certain heights, the downside is that the majority of the album spends most of the time being down in quiet ambient-based minimalism. Not that it’s a bad thing, they do it well. But considering that the peaks seem to be more interesting than the valley’s, they could have done more as a whole. Sigur Ros, on their first album do a great job at solidifying themselves as visionaries of sound, but compared to their forthcoming albums, Von lacks the variety and the sheer sonic blasts of guitar that have made the band loved. The album actually stands well on its own, building itself into atmospheric sounds capable of making you either fall into a gentle slumber or drowning out everything on your commute home! |