11.29.08
It’s not for the cock, it’s for being taken out of this world
Sigur Ros @ Alexandra Palace
As the masses of people swarm through the entrance of the huge Ally Pally, the thing that stands out the most is the full on atmosphere of child-like excitement. As faces of all ages chat happily to their mates and the time draws closer to the main event of the night, it all feels like the sort of buzz of a fairground from another age.
Almost on the dot of nine, the lights dim and four silhouettes appear to a reaction bursting with genuine anticipation and excitement. The four Icelandic figures, collectively known as Sigur Ros of course, take their positions on stage as a single keyboard note is struck and gradually the epic, sweeping of “Svefn-g-englar” unfolds. With the crashing, haunting guitar saddling up to the simple piano, the gorgeous vocals echoing around the hall and the gentle drums holding it all together, this is the most perfect and effecting opener imaginable. We’re only minutes into the performance and the crowd is already visibly transfixed.
Singer and frontman, Jon Por Birgisson, is a constant source of amazement throughout the gig- whether he’s holding a perfect vocal note for longer than anyone else in the room can hold their breath during “Festival” or is bent, stooping over attacking his guitar furiously with his bow- he is always immensely impressive and breath taking to just look at. The other members of the band are almost on a par with their leader, taking creativity and innovation to a level beyond recognition. As they produce tricks such as playing bass with a drumstick and playfully contorting their songs with subtle but effective differences, they all shine individually whilst gelling together perfectly.
Something that really stands out tonight is the use of stage effects and how they really intensify the music. As songs like “Festival” and set closer “Untitled 8” smash furiously with glorious effect into the climax, a storm of confetti shoots out, surrounding the band and drifting into the crowd. At another point, during another carefully constructed musical peak, a wall of rain pours down just in front of the band creating the sense that these almost other worldly figures are serenading us from behind a waterfall. This could all seem a little Spinal Tap had anyone else used this, but with Sigur Ros it only makes the music seem all that bit more fantastic and epic.
The projections on the back of the stage behind the band are used to a similarly transfixing effect. Abstract images of things such as slow motion fiery silhouettes bouncing up and down, stars burning on and off or blurry footage of the band using piano pedals and cymbals only mesmerise the audience more.
Considering the fact that the music of Sigur Ros is often quite abstract, or at least epic and gradual with virtually no lyrics in English, it’s a testament to their incredible talent that the crowd remain unwavering and transfixed for the entire set. Even the more accessible moments, most from their latest album, rarely come close to being sing along fodder.
Writing about tonight’s gig is like trying to teach someone a new language but only being able to use punctuation. Unless you were there, or unless you’ve seen Sigur Ros before, it seems impossible to do justice to this performance. But because of the songs, the stage effects, the lighting, the performance of the band and many, many more reasons, this was by far the best gig in memory.
http://www.myspace.com/sigurros