Von

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Product Overview

Meaning Hope in english, Von was the debut release from Iceland’s Sigur Ros,
available now as UK import CD Beggars Group / XL Recordings. Originally
released in 1997 (on a domestice pressing of 500 copies), it boldly proclaimed
the band’s progressive musical intentions.It recieved moderate critical
acclaim at home, but went relatively unnoticed abroad. In the first year
following the release, Von sold only 313 copies in Iceland. Following the
band's popular international releases, Ágætis Byrjun and ( ), it was re-
released in the United Kingdom in September 2004, and in the United States a
month later.The sixth track consists of 18 seconds of silence, and gave name
to Sigur Rós's official website, eighteen seconds before sunrise. The last
track starts with six minutes and fifteen seconds of silence, then consists of
a portion of "Myrkur" played backwards, hence the name of "Rukrym." The tracks
"Hafssól" and "Von" were later re-recorded with very different arrangements,
the former released as a B-side to the Hoppípolla single and both appearing on
2007's Hvarf/Heim.The heaps of praise during 2000 surrounding 1999's Ágætis
Byrjun brought surprisingly little attention to Sigur Rós' first record,
released in 1997. Remaining available only through the band's Icelandic label,
it took some effort to obtain, but those who did get a copy probably found it
to be just as adventurous as Agætis. Though darker and more fractured than the
string-laden nooks of the follow-up, it's just as sprawling and outright
bombastic. It's remarkable that such a young band would be this experimental
at this stage in their lifespan, but the sheer breadth gets to be an
albatross. Poking fun at '70s prog rock is just as easy as shooting at cement
gargoyles on a suburban rooftop, especially when you're an indie kid or a fan
of post-rock. But Sigur Rós makes Yes look like the Minutemen. Whittled down
to 40 minutes, Von would be considerably more effective than it already is. As
a mood setter, the 10-minute opening track really takes about three minutes to
do what it needs, and a few other spots seem to drag on for the sake of
sucking time. That doesn't prevent Von from being impressive, veering from
Gavin Bryars-style aquatic minimalism to My Bloody Valentine-style dream pop.
Varying states of isolationist ambience run throughout, whether evoking unrest
or tranquil rest. You can practically envision a stray headboard floating
through the Sinking of the Titanic-type passages, and the lush "Myrkur" comes
from a planet where MBV's Kevin Shields and Kitchens of Distinction's Julian
Swales are accorded the level or worship that Earth gives to Hendrix and
Clapton. And then there's that voice, one of the most distinctly
unintelligible voices since the Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser. Boy? Girl? One
would be hard-pressed to guess without liner notes. Based on pure sound, Von
is just as much of a treat as the acclaimed follow-up.” - AllMusic“it's an
impressive and rewarding journey that moves between prog, space-rock and
subdural transmissions in ancient alien tongues.” - Spendid“Von thrives on a
certain amount of landscaping-- wandering the Icelandic countryside is a
surreal and uncanny experience, one that Sigur Ros convey beautifully. But in
sounding so consciously epic, the album comes across more self-aware than its
offspring.” Pitchfork 7.8Selections:Sigur RósDögunHún Jörð...Leit Að
LífiMyrkur18 Sekúndur Fyrir SólarupprásHafssólVeröld Ný Og ÓðVonMisturSyndir
Guðs (Opinberun Frelsarans)Rukrym