"Svefn-g-englar" | |||||||||||||
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Single by Sigur Rós | |||||||||||||
from the album Ágætis byrjun | |||||||||||||
Released | 27 September 1999UK) | (||||||||||||
Format | CD, 12" | ||||||||||||
Genre | Post-rock, ambient | ||||||||||||
Length | 10:04 (album) 9:16 (single) |
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Label |
Fat Cat Smekkleysa PIAS |
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Producer(s) | Ken Thomas | ||||||||||||
Sigur Rós singles chronology | |||||||||||||
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"Svefn-g-englar" (SVEBN-gayng-glahr) is a song by the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós, from their second album, Ágætis byrjun.
"Svefn-g-englar" was released as a single in 1999, with two studio recordings — "Svefn-g-englar" (Icelandic pun "sleepwalkers" or "Sleep angels") and "Viðrar vel til loftárása" ("good weather for airstrikes"), both from Ágætis byrjun — and two songs recorded live at the Icelandic Opera House in Reykjavík — "Nýja lagið" ("new song"), which was never recorded in studio, and "Syndir Guðs" ("God's sins"), from the group's first LP, Von. The single was the first UK release for the band, issued on Fat Cat Records in 1999. On its release, it was named "Single of the Week" in NME. In 2001, it was re-issued, in the United States, on PIAS records. The single is available both on compact disc and 12 inch vinyl, with somewhat different selections of tracks.
The music video for "Svefn-g-englar" was directed by August Jacobsson. The video features the perlan theatre group, an Icelandic acting troupe<http://sigur-ros.co.uk/band/disco/agaetis-svefn.php> of men and women with Down syndrome.<http://sigur-ros.co.uk/band/disco/agaetis-svefn.php>. Choreography was by lára stefánsdóttir, and the angel outfits were made by: binna & nína<http://sigur-ros.co.uk/band/disco/agaetis-svefn.php>