According to Eighteen Seconds Before Sunrise, Sigur Rós (the band, not the sports drink) have been busy this year with several projects. Perhaps in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint -- it was Earth Day yesterday, after all -- Sigur Rós announced the release of a new "full-length album of acoustic songs." Reports indicate that the album consists of a hybrid technology involving the replacement of petroleum-based, battery-powered D'Addario strings with wound steel strings (technology made popular by Nirvana on MTV Unplugged). No final release date has been confirmed, but there's a tentative release month of October.
Sigur Rós also plan several other releases for 2007 and early 2008. In addition to a new EP due in August that will feature tracks "Salka," "Lagið í gær," "Rokklagið," a new version of "Von" (which was originally released on the group's first album, Von), and bonus live footage, the group has tentative dates penciled in for three DVDs:
(1) Film/soundtrack Hlemmur will finally see release as a DVD/CD package in July.
(2) A live DVD of last summer's tour in Iceland will be issued around the release of the acoustic full-length LP.
(3) Odin's Raven Magic in concert will be available also as a DVD/CD package sometime early next year.
There's also a 32-page book called In A Frozen Sea, which will "come encased in a 12″ vinyl jacket and be available on its own or as part of a limited edition vinyl package with three of the band’s 12″ lps," scheduled for June 1. You can read more about this release here.
In other Sigur Rós news, the band this past weekend performed two new tracks on Saturday Night Live (with Scarlett Johansson hosting), while former member Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir (under the name Kria Brekkan) will release a new album titled Pullhair Rubeye with Animal Collective's Avey Tare tomorrow. Meanwhile, Sigur Rós the sports drink announced it will only use meat from free-range chickens starting sometime in July.
Photo: Morgunblaðið & Fréttablaðið