neuroncollision

It’s a widely accepted fact that listening to music spurs creativity and mental prowess. As a developer, I sit and write code all day long, and as such, I need a constant influx of caffiene and creativity so that I don’t hit a brick wall. Being that as it is, I am constantly on the lookout for new and refreshing musical voyages.

Recently, I watched, for the umpteenth time, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, which features Staralfur, by Sigur Ros. Not much time passed, before I found my self in the possession of Agaetis Byrjun, the album that put the Icelandic Post-Rock group on the map in 1999.

The album is marked by melodic classical and minimalist sounds and lead singer, Jonsi’s, falsetto voice. It has a very “OK Computer” feel to it, but with far less “noise” and more melodic overtones. Unless you are fluent in Icelandic (is that even a language?), the lyrics will not distract you from your task at hand. As such, these points make this album a fantastic “ignore-the-world” musical selection.

I listen to my music at work with a pair of Sennheiser HD-280 Pro’s, they are over the ear cups, that, when mixed with music, completely block out the distractions of the office and allow me to focus. Sigur Ros’ Agaetis Byrjun, coupled with my headphones, isolate me in a way that most music can’t.

If you get the chance to check it out, I highly recommend this album for the purposes of coding, writing, drawing, or… as bizarre as it may seem, napping.