The Sigla Blog

If The Observer Woman magazine has been going downhill, the Music Magazine has also seen a wobble in quality, as I’ve mentioned on Niall’s blog, but it redeemed itself at the weekend with an extract from Slash’s forthcoming autobiography (man, my post-op painkillers are in the ha’penny place compared to his drug use) and an excellent feature on Sigur Ros.

The Icelandic foursome are without question one of my top five musical acts ever. I got Ã?gætis Byrjun when it came out and just after, a music-loving friend died before I had a chance to play it for him. Seeing them two weeks later in the Temple Bar Music Centre was the most moving gig I’ve ever been to in 18 (eek!) years of going to see bands. Nothing they’ve done has ever disappointed me. A new double album, Hvarf, is set for release on November 2nd, comprised of five new songs, and six live versions of old songs, including the brilliant, mesmeric ‘Staralful’. Also released on the same date is their film, Heima. Something of a love letter to their native country, it documents various gigs played in all kinds of venues all over Iceland. There’s a nice IFI from November 1st - 3rd. Here’s the trailer:

As yet, there’s no inkling of an Irish gig, but I would highly recommend going to see Amiina on October 29th at The Button Factory. The all female string quartet regularly play alongside Sigur Ros, as well as supporting them (one of them is married to Sigur Ros’ Kjartan Sveinsson). Their album, Kurr, is one of the most stunning albums of 2007 and got CD of the week in The Ticket from me. It should also be sold in Mothercare, such is its soporific effect on babies.

This is a performance of ‘Seoul’, a track off Kurr. As well as a xylophone and some fantastic saw-playing, there’s a lovely mini Korg in there too…