Tag Archive: Sigur Ros


GOING BERSERK OVER ICELAND

Filed under: Books, Humour, Music — Leave a comment
August 1, 2013

ICELAND, DEFROSTED by Edward Hancox (SilverWood Books, 2013)

If I was commissioning a book about Iceland, I would want something that was more than a standard check list of places to visit and things to do.

I’d want a book that told me exactly why this small duck-shaped country is so unique, stunningly beautiful and how it comes to be blessed with the knack of producing so many stunning musicians.

And lo and behold, I don’t need to commission anything because Edward Hancox has just published almost exactly the book I’ve been looking for. The book was crowdfunded through kickstarter and hit the target in just six days, as clear an indication as any that I am not the only one looking for a book on this topic. Continue reading →

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SIGUR RÓS: HOT UNDER THE STARS

Filed under: Italy, Music — Leave a comment
July 27, 2013

SIGUR RÓS live at Castello Estense – Ferrara Sotto le Stelle – July 26th 2013

Jonsì may not have been anticipating a heatwave but he is a man who is prepared for all weather conditions.

Jónsi may not have been anticipating a heatwave but he is a man who is prepared for all weather conditions.

On the drive to this show my dashboard display showed the temperatures on the motorway  to be around 35°C.  It was just as sweltering in the city centre for the closing concert of the Ferrara Sotto Le Stelle season.

Italians are usually in their element in hot weather but being packed into the outdoor concert venue in such conditions, even they looked sweaty and uncomfortable.  The impressive Castello Estense  makes for a magical setting for this most magical of groups but there is no escaping the fact that tonight it is fucking hot!

Jónsi and band were not brought up playing in heatwaves. On stage, sprays of cool mist help them survive the climatic challenge while we punters have to literally sweat it out for two hours. It is more than worth the minor discomfort for the privilege of seeing and hearing music as majestic and entrancing as theirs. Continue reading →

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POP SONG LIVE

Filed under: Music — Leave a comment
July 26, 2013

Going to see Sigur Rós at Ferrara tonight.

i don’t really care what they play as long as they end with “Untitled #8 (aka “Popplagið/The Pop Song“)”

Still probably my favourite track of all time:

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PAWS FOR REFLECTION

Filed under: Music, Photography — Leave a comment
June 5, 2013

The paws look harmless enough, but looks can be deceiving.
The black cat that inhabits my household is a hunter by nature so no ornament is safe.
He’s now taken to pulling pictures down from the walls when he wants attention.
His name his Von, named by my daughter after the Sigur Rós album.
The word means ‘hope’ in Icelandic – örvænta (despair) would have been more appropriate!

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THE FAMILY CAT

Filed under: Music — 1 Comment
December 23, 2012

The family cat is like a soldier in peacetime. He’s constantly prepared to do battle despite not having an adversary. He spends all day indoors or on the balcony.

He is named Von, after the debut album by Sigur Rós. It means ‘hope’ in Icelandic. He looks like a miniature panther but, because he has no mice or birds to kill, he only hunts (and eats!) flies and mosquitoes.

As a predator without a serious prey he has to be content with stalking the confines of the flat attacking ornaments or other breakable objects. There is some consolation in this destruction but his life in general is quite boring.

The best furniture is used to sharpen his claws, weapons he never gets to use; like assault guns that are loaded but never fired. Toys are no distraction – it’s real enemies he craves.

If you’re thinking of buying a cat for Christmas remember that those wide-eyed fluffy kitchens on picture postcards are never as cute as they look.

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