Sigur Ros Members Prep Circus-Inspired Instrumental Album

Sigur Rós bassist Georg Holm, drummer Orri Páll Dýrason, touring guitarist Kjartan Holm and composer Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson have crafted a new circus-inspired instrumental soundtrack for the BBC’s upcoming documentary, The Show of Shows.

Inspired by 100 years of archival footage of vaudeville, circuses and carnivals, the 14-track album, Circe, will see release August 21st via Sigur Rós’s Krunk imprint. Circe is currently available to pre-order in three formats, digital, CD and a double vinyl LP.

The album was recorded at Sigur Rós’s studio space in Reykjavík, Iceland and also includes contributions from the South Iceland Chamber Choir. A trailer for The Show of Shows ”” which features some incredible footage of outrageous old-school circus acts ”” offers a taste of the group’s soundtrack: The ominous, whirlwind guitars and pounding, relentless drums a far cry from Czech composer Julius Fučík’s charming, unofficial circus theme, “Entry of the Gladiators.”

The Show of Shows was commissioned for the BBC’s Storyville series, but will not air on television until next year. U.K. residents will, however, be able to attend one-off screenings at London’s Barbican Cinema 1 on July 16th, and at the Latitude Festival on July 17th. Both showings will include discussions with Holm, Dýrason and the film’s producers moderated by author Andrew Smith.

Sigur Rós have remained relatively silent since the 2013 release of their last album, Kveikur, though the group will mark the 16th anniversary of their acclaimed LP Agætis Byrjun with a deluxe vinyl box set scheduled to arrive later this year. The set will also feature Live at the Icelandic Opera House, a recording of the band’s 1999 performance at the Opera House in Reykjavík, which accompanied the release of Agætis Byrjun.