It took a while. Almost the entire EP in fact, but during Hafsól was when Sigur Rós got it right for me. Jón Þór Birgisson's ethereal falsettos, the bowing electric guitar, the quietly insistent bassline and the neo-classical strings leading to warm waves of sound that wash over you. Hafsól is a magnificent piece of music, the final track on Sæglópur. But for the first four songs I wondered if Sigur Rós and I were going to get along. There were moments here and there were a fleeting connection was made but it didn't last.

The title track is a good example. Simple at first with piano and chimes under the vocals, Sæglópur gradually builds into an epic piece with rolling drums and a crashing descending bass line. It sounds great. However unable to find the emotional resonance I can only observe the music as an outsider. Able to appreciate the craft that has gone into the song but not the core of the song itself.

The same happens with Refur, an inconsequential piano piece. Ó Fridur focuses on strings and is a more interesting track. Still I can only stand back and appreciate their ideas. The chimes and gentle ambience on Kafari is beautiful at times but the feelings never seem to last. They fade as quickly as they arrive. The trouble with taking the ambient approach is that it’s easy to get lost in nothing.

It could be that the intense, epic, engaging denouement of Sæglópur is a function of the lack of involvement with the previous tracks. A sort of tease to get you ready for the real thing. But it does point to a problem with experimentation. While some bands provide touchstones with the past bands that push the boundaries are always needed. There is a lot to admire in those that push their craft into avoiding the usual musical paths. But there is a danger in this approach. Experimentation, by its very nature, doesn't always work. It is a fine line between being clever or boring.

As I am not familiar with Sigur Rós it is hard to gauge whether the tracks that don't work are the result of a band exploring new forms. Good intentions they may have (and I do appreciate what they are trying to do) but intentions don't always bring about the expected results. The hearts of Sigur Rós are in the right place in regards to their approach to music even if sometimes their hearts don't seem to be in the music itself.