Ágætis byrjun
"( )" was co-produced and engineered by Ken Thomas, who also worked with the band on their previous album, "Ágætis byrjun". This is the first album Sigur Rós recorded at their studio based in Álafoss, Mosfellsbær, a small rural town outside Reykjavík, Iceland. The band refers to the studio as "Sundlaugin", or "The Pool". "( )" includes the work of the string quartet Amiina. "( )" was given more production and recording time than "Ágætis byrjun", although lead singer Jónsi considers the "( )" album "less polished" than its predecessor. He characterized the record as being "much more bare and alive and there are far fewer little slick things and much less sweet stuff." The strings of "Ágætis byrjun" were recorded in just two days, while two weeks were given for their recording on "( )". In addition, the former was performed by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, while the latter was done by Amiina. Because of this, the string parts required less preparation prior to recording. The band "just let them 'jam' in the studio until everybody was happy", according to Jónsi.