release date: Nov. 7, 2011
format: 2 cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]
recorded by Birgir Jón Birgisson
label: XL Recordings - nationality: Iceland
Track highlights, disc 1): 4. "Fljótavík" - - disc 2): 1. "Sæglópur"
An official double live album by Sigur Rós released three years after the great Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (June 2008). Hvarf - Heim (2007) was the band's first official live album, which also consisted of previously unreleased material, but Inni is their first full live album. The 2008 album was followed by an extensive world-tour, and by 2010 a new album had been rumoured on its way, but instead the band announced to be on a hiatus, while the band members spent time on other projects.
The compositions here stem from most of the band's studio releases but exclude the debut. With two songs from both Ágætis byrjun (1999) and ( ) (2002), four from Takk... (2005), one from the compilation Hvarf / Heim (2007), and five from the 2008 album, Inni naturally focusses on the band's most recent material. One track has not previously been released but would later be included on the 2012 album, Valtari in a different version. Inni has been released in various issues, but both the 3 lp vinyl issue, the 2-disc cd, and the digital version all consist of the same 15 tracks with a total playing time just below 1 hour and 45 minutes. Extended DVD and Blue-ray issues vary with an additional 9-14 tracks film footage, and then an Icelandic limited issue contains even more.
It's truly an amazing performance and a brilliant production. Both the original vinyl issue and the cd issue released on the band's own label Krunk, contain a DVD with live concert footage directed by Vincent Morisset filmed over two nights at the Alexandra Palace, London, Nov. 20-21, 2008 from where all 15 tracks were recorded. Only the issue released on XL was released without DVD or Blue-ray material.
Sigur Rós is without doubt the biggest band from Iceland, and with this, they do it again - only, their music is really not that different played live, so despite the fact that they play absolutely magnificently, and despite that I really enjoy all of it, it's not the most original album of the year. But my gosh, do they perform well.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com, Drowned in Sound, Clash, Consequence of Sound 4 / 5 stars ]
