Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.01.2018, Síða 35

rising falsetto, it’s a sound that’s
enough to set your skin ablaze with
goosebumps.
Joyous and resounding
Any lazy cynicism falls away quick-
ly as the band perform a generous
two-hour set that spans their back
catalogue, with a particular focus
on material from ‘()’ and ‘Takk.’ A
highlight comes when a spotlight
drops onto Jónsi as he saws away
at his guitar with his tattered cel-
lo bow, sending a groaning whale-
song sound reverberating around
the concert hall. Sigur Rós are the
kind of spectacle that’s more than
a gig—they create a specific feeling
that’s like a location all of its own.
The moving “Vaka” and muscular
“Kveikur” are highlights, and as they
finish with a joyous and climactic
version of “Popplagið,” the audience
members rise to their feet as one for
a lengthy ovation. As the sound dis-
sipates, the word “Takk” appears in
giant letters on the backdrop, and
Sigur Rós reappear to take a bow.
Amidst the whoops, whistles, and
thunderous applause, it’s evident
that the sentiment is absolutely
mutual. I breathe in deeply, holding
my breath as if were possible to keep
that warm atmosphere inside my
lungs after the concert was over.
Creative family
While the Sigur Rós shows were
the centrepiece of Norður og Niður,
there were many other memorable
gigs at the festival. UK noise-tech-
no-electronica artist Blanck Mass
whipped up a storm of heavy beats,
synth stabs, and bouts of distorted
screaming in a fierce performance
that was just as euphoric, in a com-
pletely different way. Dan Deacon
made the somewhat static and chill
post-rock crowd completely lose
their shit, running around and high
fiving each other in an amped-up
party frenzy.
Peaches—still every bit the elec-
trocash rock star—walked over the
heads of the crowd while her danc-
ers gyrated behind her in flam-
boyant vagina masks. Rex Pistols
showed off her mournful, vulner-
able, tuneful set of gloomy ’80s-in-
spired electronic pop as the sun set
over Reykjavík in the background.
In Kaldalón, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
played a glorious set of rich, organic
electronica against a swirling, col-
ourful backdrop, and in Silfurberg,
JFDR reminded us just how magical
her existing oeuvre is, and hinted at
greater things to come.
With their selections at Norður
go Niður, Sigur Rós joined the
dots between all the elements of
their extended creative family, and
mapped out the influences that
make up their musical universe. It
was a pleasure to join them on the
journey.
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35The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 01 — 2018
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