Light On Dark Water

Jónsi: Hengilas

Weekend Music


 

Yes, this is the song I had originally intended to post last week. I had a strange experience with it a couple of weekends ago. It was Sunday morning, and I had an online "radio" program playing. This song came on, and although I had heard it before and liked it, for some reason it went straight to my heart. I was having a conversation with my wife and when that falsetto part toward the end started I couldn't talk anymore.  

You might think this is  Sigur Rós, if you know them at all.  Jónsi is the main singer and, it would appear, composer of that group. This song is from his solo album, Go. "Hengilás" apparently means "padlock." There is a translation of the lyrics here.

Maclin Horton
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11 responses to “Jónsi: Hengilas”

  1. Rob G

    Good song, Mac. New Sigur Ros album coming in November from what I understand.

    Reply
  2. Mac

    Hmm, I thought they were “on hiatus.” That will make 3, I think, that I haven’t heard. Better remedy that.

    Reply
  3. Craig

    I haven’t much cared for most of what I’ve heard from Sigur Ros, but I quite liked this song that Mac selected. It sounds a bit like Enya, but with some edge.
    Speaking of upcoming albums: did anyone notice that Tom Waits has a new record out in October?

    Reply
  4. Mac

    Hmm, wouldn’t have thought of Enya, but I see what you mean–mainly those swelling chords, I think. I don’t care for some of Sigur Ros’ stuff–gets too droned-out and/or noisy, e.g. the long long opening of…is it Von or Ágætis byrjun?…a lot of distant howling. But most of it I either like or love.
    I saw some noise on Facebook about a new Waits album–I think there was a sample song, but I was too busy to listen.
    I rather like Enya, btw. I would say it’s a guilty pleasure, but I’ve decided to take a stand, and refuse to feel ashamed.

    Reply
  5. Craig

    Yes, the swelling chords, and the somewhat gauzy texture. I like Enya too. (Haven’t we had this conversation before?)
    Yes, there’s a sample song floating about. It sounds pretty crazed. Tom is evidently still gargling razor blades each night before bed.

    Reply
  6. Rob G

    Takk is my fave S.R. disc, followed by the “parentheses” album. I like every song on the former, and all but one on the latter.

    Reply
  7. Mac

    Takk is one of the ones I haven’t heard, so I’m really looking forward to it.
    Yes, I think we did discuss Enya once before, Craig.

    Reply
  8. Rob G

    You’ll be familiar with several of the songs from Takk, as they appear in the Heima film.

    Reply
  9. Mac

    That occurred to me after I made the above comment. I’m actually thinking of buying the Heima dvds, now that Netflix is signalling its intention to get out of the dvd rental business eventually.

    Reply
  10. Rob G

    “Netflix is signalling its intention to get out of the dvd rental business eventually”
    Really? That stinks.

    Reply
  11. Mac

    Yes, it’s been the big tech-biz news of the past few days. Here is one of many commentaries on it. The rental part won’t disappear overnight but there seems to be a consensus that streaming will eventually predominate.

    Reply

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