LogFAQs > #953830122

239. Sigur Rs Svefn-g-englar (1999)
from the album gtis byrjun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L64BcCRDAE

Key lyric:
Tju, tju, tju

Svefn-g-englar is a song that creates a sense of beautiful desolation. Whenever I hear it, I cant help but picture an abandoned society reclaimed by nature. Perhaps it is not so apocalyptic; the lyrics are about a child being born into the world. I cant imagine much difference between those two feelings. In either case, one is being overwhelmed by loss and beauty. The world is a big place with such conflicting emotions, and Svefn-g-englar seeks to capture that in its totality. And in that manner, I find deep comfort in this sound.

Sigur Rs are generally classified as post-rock, a lofty term that suggests a pretentious aspect which fails to capture what theyre really doing. To me, this is ambient music by way of rock instrumentation. This is a song that exists in dream space, crafting an atmosphere of sleepy warmth. Jnsis voice has an ethereal quality like few others. There are some songs I put on to put me in a good mood, but Svefn-g-englar does something harder to express. Its not necessarily joyous or happy, but it lends an air of serenity to even my most dire moods. Plenty of lyrics promise everything will be alright, but Svefn-g-englar with its colossal sound makes that suggestion sonically tangible.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/