Jónsi explains how Sigur Rós made its first new album in a decade
The first new album from the Icelandic band Sigur Rós in a decade begins with something that will be immediately identifiable to fans of the band — the voice of Jónsi — but that familiar sound is quickly joined by something new. The album, called ÁTTA, surrounds his voice with the sound of strings.
ÁTTA translates from Icelandic as eight. It is the band's eighth studio album; their first came out 26 years ago. When I spoke with Jónsi last week, I learned that the band made its way back together slowly, over a few years. In order to create this magnificent album the three bandmates — Jón Þór Birgisson (Jónsi) on vocals and cello bowed guitar along with multi-instrumentalist Kjartan Sveinsson (Kjarri) and bassist Georg Hólm (Goggi) — first reunited in Jónsi's basement, before finally making their way to Abbey Road studios where they teamed up with the London Contemporary Orchestra and conductor Robert Ames.
It's amazing to think of these three musicians, playing this music since they were in their teens or early 20s,, in 2013, and then its members split to work on separate projects. (Sveinsson departed the group earlier, in 2012.)
