The next track had a similarly dramatic shift around the halfway mark. After hitting the album’s explosive peak in a whirl of piano and strings and distortion, “Sæglópur” slumped into a state of serene exhaustion. The piano fell limp, gently treading upon a melody that felt lost and uncertain, somehow both sad and triumphant. Birgisson and violins swooped overhead like birds in synchronised flight. I saw them play this song live at Isle of Wight’s Bestival in 2012, and a massive group hug broke out in the audience just in front of me. Bodies sighed and came together as the melody rose and
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