Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0634904030728
Label: Xl Recordings
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Xl Recordings
MPN: 40307
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: Xl Recordings
Release Date: 2007-11-06
Studio: Xl Recordings

November 5 sees Sigur Rós release a 2 CD set featuring all-new recordings titled "Hvarf - Heim". The album has two titles because it is in effect two separate, but complementary, entities with two front covers and is issued as a limited edition run of two discs. Open it one way and it's "Hvarf" ("disappeared" or "haven") a five track electric studio record comprising mainly unreleased rarities from Sigur Rós's back-pages, none of which features on "Heima" (the double DVD release issued on the same day). It features three previously unreleased songs (Salka, Hljómalind and Í Gær) alongside radical re-workings of two tracks from their debut album "Von". Open it the other way and it's "Heim" ("home"), a six track live acoustic record, comprising delicate new unplugged versions of some of Sigur Rós's finest moments, which have never been performed in this way before. The band were originally planning to release a more traditional live album to go with the "Heima" tour film, but instead decided upon "Hvarf-Heim" - infinitely more stimulating and exciting than some "will-this-do?" toss-offs of songs they honed to perfection in the studio aeons ago. Hljómalind / Starálfur is released as a limited edition double A-side 7" vinyl single on October 22 as a taster for the album release, but also to celebrate the UK Premiere of the "Heima" film which is on October 24 as part of the BBC's Electric Proms.
In Icelandic, the word "hvarf" means "disappeared," and the first five tracks of Sigur Rós's double CD set nearly did disappear, having remained unreleased until this collection. Fans will love new opportunities to enjoy the band's precious style--precious save for "I Gaer," which starts out like a music-box and builds to dramatic, Pink Floyd-esque guitar-rawk proportions. The inclusion of two specific tracks, "Von" (meaning "hope") and "Hafsol," will especially delight longtime SR fans; written and recorded during the group's infancy in 1995, these tracks became treasured live performances, having never been captured on disc as their expanded, evolved versions until now. The disc's second portion, "Heim" ("home") is a six-song acoustic set that shows Sigur Rós in a less grandiose, more delicate light. The original versions of each were spread throughout SR's four previous releases, and all six were captured live-to-disc when the band performed a unique tour comprising surprise concerts in settings ranging from deserted fish factories to darkened caves. (The tour has been released separately as an endearing DVD, a companion to this collection entitled Heima.) While totally acoustic, the songs remain full-bodied, lush and lovely, especially the former underground hit "Ágætis byrjun" and "Heysátan," within which you’ll hear--if you listen closely--the sounds of chirping birds singing along with the orchestral instruments. --Denise Sheppard

More from Sigur Ros

Takk	( )	Von
Screaming Masterpiece	Sigur Ros (Ny Batteri)

Customer Rating:
Summary: Odds-and-ends but quite nice anyway
Comment: Sigur Ros has been very busy lately (the last 2 years). After touring endlessly beyond the Takk album around the world, they toured their native Iceland and recorded the experience for a DVD "Heima", which was released last Fall. Just about the same time, Sigur Ros released this collection as well.

Hvarf/Heim (2 CDS; 11 tracks; 73 min.) consists of seemingly 2 completely separate CDs. On "Hvarf" (5 tracks; 37 min.) the band went looking into the archives and came up with tracks scattering from 1995 to 2002. The best in the bunch are "Hljomalind," which sounds like it could've been an outtake from "Takk", even though it was recorded in 1999, and the 9+ min. "Von" (recorded in 1995), as lush yet introspective as anything as the band has done. "Heim" (6 tracks, 36 min.) brings tracks from that Iceland tour in 2006, and it really is nice. All the tracks are acoustic only. The opener "Samskeyti" is an beautiful instrumental, and the other tracks flow just as well. The band is augmented by the strings quartet of Amiina on all tracks, and as such most of the tracks don't sound all that different from the original tracks, even without the epic electric guitar of Jon Birgisson.

In all, this is a nice, but not essential, addition to the Sigur Ros catalog. Since then, the band has released a new album recently, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust, which seems to mark a new musical direction for Sigur Ros. I'll be sure keep my eye on these guys.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Sigur Ros Hvarf/Heim
Comment: This album is a delight. This band is so original and so unpredictable that their music is always a surprise, and Hvarf/Heim is no exception. On one disc are polished studio recordings of several of Sigur Ros' most requested songs, and on the other disc are rare live cuts rich with acoustic detail. I don't speak Icelandic, so the words are lost on me, but the music speaks for itself. Their extremely moving song "Von" (Hope) is on both discs so we get to hear it both live and produced. Both versions soar with emotion, as the music moves from bright to dark like a stormy sky. I'm glad I bought it.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous
Comment: The music of Sigur Rós is almost indescribably beautiful and this CD brings out some live recordings that are truly gorgeous. I can't say enought about any Sigur Rós CD and this one is no exception. You get transported into another world with each listen.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great sound!!!
Comment: If you like ethereal soundscapes this is a great CD. If you like to hear lyrics this is probably not for you. I personally like hearing the sound of Icelandic and Sigur Ros' own made up language (it's hard to tell which is which). Mixed with the atmospheric music, the songs are haunting and beautiful. The song Hljómalind sounds almost like a "pop" song and is very catchy.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great new (old) CD
Comment: Awesome CD, I had heard most of the songs in their original formats years ago - but that doesn't take anything away from this masterpiece. It would have been great to try and squeeze all the songs onto 1 CD but I guess that wasn't possible; it's a pain in the neck to keep getting up when listening to such relaxing music.
One of my favorite CDs of 2007

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