Artist

Sigur Rós

1994-present·Reykjavík, Reykjavik

Formed in January 1994 by Jón Þór 'Jónsi' Birgisson, bassist Georg Hólm, and drummer Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson, and named Sigur Rós — 'Victory Rose' — after Jónsi's newborn sister. Jónsi had already worked as a full-time studio engineer before starting the band, and his ear for the recording process shows in everything they built afterward: the huge reverb sounds, a cello bow drawn across guitar strings, an invented language called Vonlenska (Hopelandic) that let his choirboy voice function as pure texture rather than semantic meaning.

The full story is in Icelandic Music.

At a glance

Active
1994–present
From
Reykjavík, Iceland
Records in the issues
3 (1999–2005), 1 of them a Start here pick
Original labels
Smekkleysa and EMI
Listening guide track
“Gold”

Listen

In the Post-Rock listening guide: “Gold”

Spotify

In the issues

  • Post-Rock
    Supporting cast · 1986-2005 · Members

    Post-Rock is a genre from International (Louisville, Chicago, Montreal, Glasgow), 1986–2005. Its principal artists include Slint, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mogwai and Tortoise. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 19 dated events.

  • Icelandic Music
    Principal · 1980-present · Members

    Icelandic Music is a music scene from Reykjavík, Iceland, 1980–present. Its principal artists include Björk, Sigur Rós, The Sugarcubes and Múm. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 17 dated events.

Records