A Tender Performance
Let’s be fair. Iceland is not famous for much with one of its celebrated exports being the band Sigur Ros who headline the first of four nights. Yet this is Spain. In late July. On the coast. Not exactly the most appropriate setting for an outfit hailing from a land of geysers and Bjork.
Whilst the audience wonder quite how this will work the band open with a fairly tepid start, lulling admirers in with tidy percussion. Far from being a headline act, this feels tenderly intimate. Almost as if the band are in their own cocoon peering out despite the stage becoming ever more crowded with a backing quartet edging in and several huge balloons that appear as reflective red and white baubles. Well orchestrated instrumentation is all well and good but it lacks an outlet and then you hear Jónsi Birgisson. As the summer air begins to cool it all begins to make sense. Few could deny the lead singers ethereal falsetto voice for tonight Matthew; the red hills are actually glaciers and Birgisson is sonically sound tracking the epic landscapes. Yes, so they use their own crazy gibberish for a language, and it seems no-one but the band themselves can understand the Vonleskan lyrics yet it matters little. Words would fail to aid such music when it depicts a more than solemn, sombre picture. Almost as a trademark, Birgisson plays his electric guitar with a cello bow and here he is in his element. Bedecked in an elaborate black, almost military jacket he comes across as a soldier devoutly leading his fellow troops out of war.
With the longest set of any headline act it takes them a full hour to address the crowd yet they were spellbound a long while ago. Indeed, any reaction comes in the form of squealing anticipation as a familiar piano melody rings across the site and they lead into a tear jerking version of Hoppipolla. You know the one; the song that has sound tracked BBCs Planet Earth and that all too very hopeful coverage of England in a major football tournament. Its poignant glory rejoices those in earshot and proves that there is optimism in the despairing. The band themselves look a tad embarrassed by the feedback, possibly as it’s one of few familiar efforts that the crowd can actually interact to. Without doubt, the very first ‘I Was There’ moment to take back home with your tan.
What was a set in doubt has now become one of the most unforgettably engrossing, enthralling and emotional performances, the like of which only Sigur Ros could ever achieve. With such a performance deep in heartbreaking grandeur, who said you had to party every night?