Whenever I made reference to Sigur Rós in advance of their Saturday night show at the Air Canada Centre, the same two questions kept arising: 1) who is Sigur Rós and 2) what the heck is “Icelandic prog rock?” And — for the sake of full disclosure — I was wondering those two things until very recently.
Still, even after Saturday’s haunting, ethereal show, the answers to these questions aren’t entirely clear.
Sigur Rós’ airy sound sits somewhere between Pink Floyd and, well, elevator music. Over the course of their two-hour set, the offerings were alternately serene, mystical and often just plain strange. Yet there was still something inherently impressive and, at times, spectacular about the trio and its 11-piece orchestra, all of whom were completely in sync and equally responsible for contributing to the night’s mellow atmosphere.
Also involved in creating that vibe were the visceral, vivid images that punctuated the band’s songs with emotional weight, attaching fully formed narratives to songs whose lyrics aren’t accessible to those unfamiliar with the Icelandic language. During one track, images of children playing in a field lent a lighter feel to the associated music. Conversely, during another song, a red colour scheme and a crazed-looking old man right out of a ’90s music video instilled a sense of chaos.
The group was illuminated in an array of digitally controlled lights that was often set to correspond with the music; at various points in the show, flowing, formless colours draped over the band in a manner akin to the liquid inside a lava lamp.
On the rare occasions that the band did amplify the sound and establish a more explosive, dynamic energy, it came with a well-suited transition and didn’t jar the 6,000-strong audience, most of whom experienced the show with relaxed passivity. And yes, some fans could be seen either sleeping or, at least, taking in the show in a decidedly subconscious manner.
All told, Sigur Ros’ ACC visit shouldn’t be evaluated in terms of “good” or “bad.” It was a unique concert-going experience, and while it was somewhat inaccessible due to the language barrier, the Icelandic group offered up an emotional spectacle that is worth experiencing, whether you’re a fan or not.