Pitchfork: Sigur Rós Sign to EMI; New Album May Be Pushed To 2005

Sigur Rós Sign to EMI; New Album May Be Pushed To 2005
Post-rock journalists lobby for keyboard containing ó key

[Updated Friday, January 30th, 2004 02:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Sigur Rós have changed European labels and recorded the foundations of six songs for their new album. As anticipated, three songs that have been incorporated into the band's recent live sets ("Gong," "Mílanó," and "Salka") have all been recorded, along with three unknown new songs. "We already have six songs ready, but none of the songs are finished yet," reports drummer Orri Dyrason. "As of now we are just doing the recordings by ourselves, but on later stages Ken Thomas will join in on the work, like he did on our last album. We plan to have the album finished in the summer. And this time I even think the songs will have proper lyrics."

The recording process for the new album differs from that of the band's last outing, ( ), which was played out on tour extensively before the band ever entered the studio. The new album is largely an in-studio creation, as was the band's landmark Ágaetis Byrjun. When we first reported on the new album back in August, the rumor was that the album was going to be somewhat more accessible, with the three known tracks having a brighter, more urbane sound than anything on ( ). The new rumor is that the album is also going to be a partial return to the sound of Ágaetis Byrjun (disappointing those fans who were hoping for a return to the guitar-driven rock sound of the band's breakthrough album, The Bends).

Sigur Rós' managers expect the album to be released early in 2005, though the band has hopes of getting it out sooner. Also in the works is a release of their twenty-minute performance at last October's premiere of Merce Cunningham's Split Sides dance piece, where the band appeared alongside Radiohead. Instruments used in the band's experimental set include a pair of miked ballet shoes made by singer Jónsi Birgisson's father.

As acknowledged in the recent Fat Cat newsletter, Sigur Rós has left the label and joined European major EMI for overseas distribution. The band signed a three album deal, and will continue under the Universal banner in the U.S. Sigur Rós celebrated the signing at their recent ten-year birthday party, where Björk, Múm, and other Icelandic rock stars partied, presumably, like rock stars.