Shepizzle

So if you have been paying attention to my Last.fm profile, you would have seen this post coming. Every once in a while, I get on a Sigur Rós kick and I just let myself get lost in their music for a few days.

Hailing from the nordic northlands of Iceland, Sigur Ros is no stranger to international success. The band has released several solid albums including ( ), Takk…, and most recently, Hvarf-Heim. Their music contains elments of ambient sound, shoegaze, and rock. Many of the songs are very epic both in feel and in length. The vocals are sung in a made up language loosely based on Icelandic that leaves the lyrics to the listener’s imagination, though the music does enough to convey the intended emotion. Also worthy of note is that guitarist Jón Þór Birgisson is one of only a select few who often plays his guitar with a cello bow in true Jimmy Page fashion!

• Official Sigur Ros Website

I have yet to see these guys perform live but I have seen video of live performances and they are truly mind-blowing.

My favorite songs include “Staralfur“, “Saeglopur“, “Glosoli“, “Hljomalind“, “Heysatan“, and “Track 1” from ( ).

If you like Sigur Ros, try: Mogwai, Radiohead, The Album Leaf, Broken Social Scene, Efterklang

Sigur Ros’ music videos are truly works of art. I chose this one because of how well the video complements the feel of the music. This is “Glosoli” from Takk…

Imogen Heap, the talented and dynamic ex-Frou Frou front woman takes the lead as a soloist continuing with her strong independent sounds and emotion evoking lyrics. Regardless of what style of music you come from, you are sure to enjoy listening to “Hide and Seek” as well as the rest of the tracks on her recent album Speak for Yourself. It’s a well-rounded, powerful album that you not only need to hear but are sure to love after you do.

On stage there really isn’t an explanation that will do her justice. Mixing and looping her own sounds and creations live, she provides a unique expression of multiple instruments controlled over a MIDI keyboard and laptop while singing at the same time. She is self-taught in sequencing, music engineering, and sampling. On musical instruments, she is proficient in playing piano (her first instrument), as well as the cello, clarinet, guitar, drums, and the unique Array Mbira.

Imogen is an accomplished singer/songwriter and producer who has worked with people from Josh Groban (ah hem, no comment), Britney Spears (we might just forgive her this one time for that), Jeff Beck, Sean Lennon, Blue October, and even Acacia. She has been burned a few times and doesn’t trust big music labels, rightly so, but has recently sided with BMG after working explicitly with Almo and Megaphone.

As far as genres are concerned, good luck really hitting the nail on the head, but as far as an attempt we could put her in the following: Electronic, Alternative, Indie Rock, and Ambient.

Label Type: Indie

• ImogenHeap.com

(more…)