It is a rarity for the typically acerbic English press to take kindly to music from other parts of Europe. Before the emergence of Sigur Ros it was nigh unthinkable to have them refer to music from an Icelandic band as 'the sound of God weeping tears of gold in heaven'. For their flag-waving U.S counterparts to quote them and then actually agree is downright miraculous.
For years, fans with an ear to the underground have been buzzing about a band they're not even sure how to pronounce. They've been wandering into records stores to ask for albums whose titles are either Nordic tongue twisters like “ágætis byrjun” or lacking a title altogether in the case of their 2002 album, “( )”. And minor urban legends have emerged; of music fans chasing Sigur Ros like sesame street's snuffalupagus. "They sold out in five minutes," seekers of the trippy, atmospheric Icelanders are usually told.
The publicity-shy and artistically uncompromising band has had an Australian tour in their sights for a number of years. It nearly became a reality last year when Radiohead, who have cited the Sigur Ros as a major influence in their sonic experimentation, invited the band to tour with them. Alas, having a show that involves string sections, numerous projectors screens, an elaborate lighting show and a big production has necessitated the alignment of many stars (and a Japanese tour!) to finally make the costly trek to Australia possible.
Here's to making up for lost time!
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