Sigur Ros

Since the late nineties, Sigur Ros have established themselves as the premier purveyors of delicate orchestral melodies ripe for feature film soundtrack inclusion. Who among us can forget the lilting piano strains that signal the beginning of "Hoppipolla" or the explosion of sound that "Saeglopur" bursts into mid-stride?

If nothing else it's impossible to forget the titles. The band themselves are nearly as inscrutable as their music, particularly since the members are notably boorish in dealing with the press.

Case in point: last years disastrous NPR interview (which can still be seen online, replete with "director's commentary") during which the band is somewhat polite yet awfully reticent for radio.

One wonders why they even agreed to render the interview. Publicity? Contractual obligations? Free coffee at the studio?

Granted, the majority of the questions are approaching inane, yet there's little question the band could have been more gracious. Instead they come off as bleary-eyed sedative addicts.

Though, personally, I wouldn't have it any other way. It is so very droll to read the comments of the fans as they blindly defend their precious heroes and decry the career choice (among other things) of the interviewer.

But I digress.

Since news of Hvarf/Heim broke mid-2007, it's been no secret the band has been crafting a new record for months. So it was with great fanfare that the band recently released the first single from the new album on their website, titled "Gobbledigook".

Believe it or not, I spelled that correctly. "Gobbledigook". I really wish this was an April Fools post, somehow that would make this whole entry even more amusing.

The album cover and music video are also readily available on the web. Sigur Ros has a grand tradition of gorgeous disc packaging and thoughtfully crafted video clips. So what majestic aesthetic are we presented with this time?

Naked people running and/or dancing. Lots of naked people.

Why? Because we all know naked bodies equal poetic art. By this logic the AdultCon conventions should be worthy of highbrow review in the New Yorker.

Were he still with us, I'm sure Helmut Newton would love this new direction. As for me, I'm simply pleased to behold a group so wonderfully bizarre.

Thanks Sigur Ros, for providing beautifully eclectic music with a hearty serving of unintentional hilarity. What will you guys think of next?

Wait, don't tell me. I want to be surprised.

"Gobbledigook" from Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (2008)

[Yeah, I had to copy and paste that title.]