Formed in 1994, Sigur Rós have built a reputation for their individually ethereal sound. Frontman Jónsi’s falsetto vocals, proclaiming lyrics in Icelandic, are the most immediately recognisable element of their sound, but their use of various unconventional techniques contribute to shaping their idiosyncratic soundscape. Jónsi’s use of a cello bow on guitar provides an interesting drone-like element to the mix and allows for impressive dynamic range on the guitar, both of which contribute to building the stunning climaxes typical of Sigur Rós’ music.
With so much of Sigur Rós’ song structure focused on climax-building, they are the perfect band to see in an arena environment. The whopping PA system at Margaret Court Arena did the trick to convey the true power of their music, going the whole spectrum from whisper-silent to bone-shakingly loud.
Not content to only wow us sonically, the visual show presented by Sigur Rós was impressive. An array of tubes were sprawled across the stage, changing colour and pattern between songs to alternately give the impression of walking through a forest or flying through a star-lit sky. A projector screen backed the performance, showing a varied array of fractals, 3D renders of Jónsi’s head and visual noise. Both the projection and the lighting were synchronised perfectly with the performance, and the combined effect was nothing less than breathtaking.
The namesake of Margaret Court Arena has been in the spotlight over the past couple of months for her public stance against same-sex marriage in Australia. Regardless of your personal stance on the matter, Sigur Rós evidently have their own. They took advantage of their slot and arranged the sale of limited-edition t-shirts, the proceeds of which were used to support Australian Marriage Equality. The roar of the crowd when the back projection switched to the Australian Marriage Equality logo gave a clear indication of the majority’s stance on the issue.
Highlight: That one guy who couldn’t take sitting down anymore, promptly rushing to the front barrier and rocking the fuck out during the final track. Props.
Lowlight: My bony butt had a real bad time on the plastic seats.
Crowd Favourite: By the sounds of the crowd, a selection of Icelandic men got them going alright.
