Sigur Ros ( ) 2LP

( ) - Sigur Rós's celebrated third album, and for many people - especially in the US where it remains their biggest selling work - the most quintessentially "Sigur Rós" record of their career to date. It is the only album where Jónsi sings entirely in the wordless lyrics of Hopelandic. A desire to elide meaning and allow the listener to bring their own interpretation to the music, extends to the eight songs, all of which are nameless. The music is broadly divided into two halves, divided by a critical 36 seconds of silence. The first half of the album being lighter and more optimistic, and the second half bleaker and more melancholic, culminating in the thundering climax of "Untitled #8", the closing song of every Sigur Rós show since the song was written in 2000.

( ) was recorded at the band's own studio Sundlaugin, in Mosfellsbær outside Reykjavik, in 2002, co-produced by the band with Ken Thomas, who also helmed their break through second album, Agætis Byrjun. Completely out of print, the vinyl album now comes in its full Grammy-nominated artwork, including die-cut sleeve and spot UV varnish inner bags.

Atmospheric sonic experimentations

quintessentially Sigur Rós, these avant-garde hymns demand, and reward, time and attention

Sigur Rós' music has all the depth, resonance and humanity of a Brueghel landscape, and is best appreciated at loud volumes in open spaces, as a soundtrack for scenery, real or imagined.