Sigur Ros HVARF - HEIM - Vinyl

Released in conjunction with the 2007 Sigur Ros documentary HEIMA, the double-CD HVARF/HEIM set presents the revered Icelandic post-rock ensemble in two different settings. HVARF consists largely of previously unreleased tracks that capture the group's majestic sound, most notably "Hljomalind," which features the quartet building to glorious crescendos in full-blown rocked-out mode, and "I Gaer," a dark, dramatic number that harks back to Sigur Ros's goth-tinged early material. HVARF's companion disc, HEIM, finds the act working in a pared-down acoustic vein, with Jon Por Birgisson's fragile, emotive vocals more prominently showcased in the mix, as on the soaring "Staralfur" (from the lauded AGAETIS BYRJUN album) and the slowly unfurling "Von" (from the band's debut of the same name). While this compilation most readily appeals to diehard Sigur Ros fans, the first disc is dynamic enough to pull in new listeners, and the second radiates an intimate warmth, making the compilation much more than just a rarities collection.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Rock