Sigur Rós – “Sæglópur”

The next seven minutes are dedicated to angsty singing time.

It’s difficult to justify vocal songs on a blog like this one, but there are a few sparklers in the vaults and I occasionally feel compelled to share them. For the uninitiated, this Icelandic band is considered eccentric, even by fellow countrymen…but they’re doing exactly what they mean to do. Now and then, they generate a stark, beautiful, earth-shattering song whose vibe is as familiar as it is strong. Ignore the language barrier because the mood is obvious enough. It’s not the melody but the build of it that should impress you. Novelists, if you’re dealing with a death scene, dysfunctional family, or otherwise despairing moment, this should just about fit the bill.