Sigur Ros - 'Takk' (EMI) Released 12/09/05

Prog rock eh? All tie dye and flares, hash pipes and beards. With the exception of 'Dark Side Of The Moon' there hasn’t ever been or ever will be a decent prog rock record, right? Enter Iceland’s Sigur Ros singing in a language only they can understand and writing music that could have never come from anybody else. On this their fourth LP, (their third available worldwide, their debut 'Von' is only available in Iceland) they venture into terrorities even Jason Pearce would fear to tread…

After the minute long title track that serves as an intro 'Glosoli' starts gently, Jonsi’s crystal falsetto whispers sweetly over sweet guitar phrases until four minutes in when the bubble finally bursts. The clash of sheer resounding beauty and delicate aggression really is unfathomable. It shouldn’t work but it does and no sooner have you got your breath back when ‘Hoppipolla’s epic piano melody rolls into the open space and forces you to cry with a smile on your face. By the time it reaches its cinematic climax the listener has been taken way above the heavens and back again and all in time for Top Of The Pops. This isn’t to say ‘Hoppipolla’ is anything that’s even remotely radio friendly but this is easily the most accessible track on here. Its not that ‘Takk’ is a difficult listen but it’s hard to believe many Offspring or Green Day fans will be rushing out to buy this despite the immeasurable hype Sigur Ros evoke in the US rock press. You have to ask yourself though, is that really a bad thing?

The albums eleven tracks sparkle and shine throughout encompassing many styles, grand orchestral themes mix with what sounds like German beer hall slap dance music to dazzle and amaze. Further on in the record and ‘Soeqliopur’ glistens and chinks over the speakers, ‘Lndvari’ informs us of the kind of records Radiohead should really be making and finale ‘Heysatan’ is plain gorgeous. Surpassing their last three records by light years Sigur Ros have delivered a record that feels completely unique and comforting like the soundtrack to a million sad movies that all have happy endings. The scale of it may be a little too grand for some but much, much, more importantly than that you forgive them as they are Brad Pitt’s favourite band. You can’t ask for any more than that now can you?