- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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MojoJun 26, 2012Ekki Mukk is a gossamer-light, if strangely riveting voice in the wilderness, while Varoelder drifts agreeably off into softly chiming waves of yearning desolation. Less stirring are the ambience-flecked, tympani-tickled meanderings that fill out much of the rest of the hour. [Jul 2012, p.90]
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Q MagazineJun 19, 2012In the past, they have demonstrated the power to leave people flattened: Valtari, however, just falls a little flat. [Jun 2012, p.94]
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Jun 8, 2012Valtari is by no means a bad record; it's extremely easy to enjoy. It's even beautiful at times. Unfortunately, it's even easier to forget.
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Jun 4, 2012Though true that the album lacks the fervent surge of nearly every other Sigur Rós record, it's far from a snoozer. The conspicuous beauty and flummoxing eccentricity of the past haven't gone anywhere – they've just had their edges softened.
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Jun 4, 2012Without any sense of grounding, the record seems like an inconsequential fantasy.
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May 31, 2012Impeccably produced, Valtari ultimately feels like two diametrically opposed albums.
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May 30, 2012In the realm of Sigur Rós, it's akin to breathing plain fresh air: in some contexts, refreshing, but in others, just... there.
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May 29, 2012These slow-building, shivery washes of sound are what the band do best, proving worthy of far more listening time than those incidental moments soundtracking nature programmes.
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May 29, 2012Valtari is glistening, subliminal and sounds as if it's balanced on a falling raindrop.
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May 29, 2012There's nothing here resembling stadium polish: if anything, the lush arrangements often yield subtly fascinating results.
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May 25, 2012The eight tracks of Valtari, which, while pleasant, are somewhat underwhelming examples of the band's formula.
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May 25, 2012A pretty set of songs, but this time out, it appears that Sigur Rós's reach has failed to exceed their grasp, resulting in an album that is simply good rather than outstanding.
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May 24, 2012All too easily, the songs sink into the background – which is a shame, because there is also great beauty here.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 53 out of 63
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Mixed: 8 out of 63
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Negative: 2 out of 63
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May 30, 2012
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May 29, 2012
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May 31, 2012