hvarf-heim

I was supposed to be studying for my Linux Certification, but here I am writing a post on Sigur Rós‘s Hvarf-Heim.

I got the album last week at Rock Corner, from my KL-Penang delivery-boy, keyboard junkie. He bought an extra copy for himself as well without knowing what to expect from this compilation album. But he will definitely be pleased when he found out that what he bought for us was a limited edition double CD digipak, first pressing only.

It is a double disc compilation album with previously unreleased studio tracks plus live acoustic version of previously released studio tracks. It made up a total of (5+6) 11 tracks as a companion to Heima DVD (a film by Sigur Rós).

 

Disc 1 : Hvarf | Heim : Disc 2

 

Hvarf, these are supposed to be the almost forgotten/lost tracks from various points in the band’s career. It starts out with Salka, which the guitar reminds me of Explosions in the Sky. But when Jónsi’s voice settles in, you can bet for a hell of great musical-lyrical journey ahead. My personal favorite would be Í Gær, which can be heard through out Heima’s trailer. Just can’t get enough/over of the tinkling intro..

Heim, these are tracks recorded during the band’s summer 2006 and early spring 2007 tour in Iceland. And as a person that prefers live recordings compare to studios, I have to say Heim overshadowed Hvarf. The stripped down tracks are simply amazing and are as good as the non-acoustic/electrical versions. To my pleasant surprise, powerful tracks like Starálfur, Vaka (Untitled #1) and Ágætis Byrjun were not much off from their original electrical versions, I wonder how they do it. Overall the vocals are much crystallized, in a way much warmer. Even the sad sounding piano riff doesn’t sound sad at all 🙂

There are good-bad reviews over the Internet, but personally I think Sigur Rós stole it.

Some can’t get into the band at all, no matter how hard they try. But I was born to take craps like this (its a compliment). Got to catch them perform live before I die.

Tags: Heima, Hvarf-Heim, Rock Corner, Sigur Rós