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Product Description
Review
In 2006 Sigur Rós frontman Jón Thór (Jónsi) Birgisson and his partner Alex Somers released a picture book, Riceboy Sleeps. Earlier this year the duo's track Happiness provided one of the standout moments on AIDS-awareness compilation Dark Was The Night, and the same track opens this, the duo's debut album. That 2006 book, like much of Sigur Rós's own artwork, was a thing of particular beauty, and so is this.
Riceboy Sleeps is primarily instrumental, working at a level of minimalism that approaches the glacial velocity of drones. The tracks were recorded using acoustic instruments - the beautifully rich string playing of regular Sigur Rós collaborators Amiina is woven throughout - before being digitally remixed and manipulated (at a raw food commune in Hawaii, dietary zealots might be gratified to learn). Those hoping to hear Jónsi's distinctive vocals here might be disappointed: their only appearance is deep in the mix during the moving climax to Indian Summer.
In terms of atmosphere, this album is first cousin to the most dreamlike sections of Sigur Rós' back catalogue. As with much of the that band's string parts, the music shares a mournful beauty with certain works of modern orchestral composers such as Arvo Pärt, Gavin Bryars and Henryk Górecki, or the ambient experiments of Brian Eno. Given these touchstones it's unsurprising that this album should, at times, be so remarkably reminiscent of post-rock duo Stars of the Lid.
Riceboy Sleeps operates at a heady level of beauty. The string and piano playing is emotionally stirring to begin with, attaining the same achingly mournful emotional register as familiar heartstring molesters like Barber's Adagio for Strings or the second movement of Schubert's String Quintet in C Major. It's the laptop post-production, however, that succeeds in augmenting the music's effect to sometimes sublime levels. Piano keystrokes hang and shimmer in space, creaks and rattles provoke an odd sense of weightlessness, and the semi-synthesised, heavily reverberated choir parts on Boy 1904 and the extraordinary Daniell In The Sea become labyrinths of sound you never want to gain egress from. --Chris Power
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Product Description
CD The Voice Of Sigur Ros
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a very impressive piece of ambient Icelandic acoustic music. Very ethereal and the strings and occasional wordless choral vocals give it a "church like" feeling. Similar in mood to Eno's "Thursday Afternoon" but wider ranging in its textures. It also reminded me in parts of their fellow Icelanders múm, and naturally of some of the quieter passages of Sigur Ros's music without sounding directly like them. Easily the best thing I've heard so far in 2009 and it reveals new qualities with each playing. Quite beautiful
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Rev Q Sand
Format:Audio CD
I'd imagine most people who purchase this album will be Sigur Ros fans and many reviews have tried to draw comparisons between the two groups. I, however, think it stands up in its own right and is distinctive enough to leave an impression.
Out of curiosity I'd watched the video to "Daniell in the Sea" on youtube and was immediately impressed by its otherworldly atmosphere and beautiful choral arrangement. Wondering whether this was a typical example of Riceboy Sleeps I then listened to a couple more tracks and realised that the rest of their music was equally haunting.
When trying to describe the sound I keep thinking of an orchestra playing underwater as daft as that sounds. The instrumentation is uncertain although strings can be heard drifting in and out of focus as well a number of intriguing samples. Occasionally I'm reminded of the quieter moments of Sigur Ros but most of the time I'm immersed in the overall atmosphere of the music.
For me the best tracks are those that utilise voices such as "Boy 1904" and the aforementioned "Daniell in the Sea". Jonsi's unique voice is only noticeable on one track and even then it's used more as a texture rather than a lead melody.
A couple of tracks don't particularly stand out or go anywhere but taken as a whole it's a beautiful and haunting record. Play it late at night and it works perfectly.
Out of curiosity I'd watched the video to "Daniell in the Sea" on youtube and was immediately impressed by its otherworldly atmosphere and beautiful choral arrangement. Wondering whether this was a typical example of Riceboy Sleeps I then listened to a couple more tracks and realised that the rest of their music was equally haunting.
When trying to describe the sound I keep thinking of an orchestra playing underwater as daft as that sounds. The instrumentation is uncertain although strings can be heard drifting in and out of focus as well a number of intriguing samples. Occasionally I'm reminded of the quieter moments of Sigur Ros but most of the time I'm immersed in the overall atmosphere of the music.
For me the best tracks are those that utilise voices such as "Boy 1904" and the aforementioned "Daniell in the Sea". Jonsi's unique voice is only noticeable on one track and even then it's used more as a texture rather than a lead melody.
A couple of tracks don't particularly stand out or go anywhere but taken as a whole it's a beautiful and haunting record. Play it late at night and it works perfectly.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is certainly not a Sigur Ros album. It is an altogether much calmer beast though you can tell that it has its roots in that same desolate Icelandic landscape. Within the first few moments of `Happiness' starting you are swept away into a world of gentle ringing and a warm steady undertone with intricacies that though present are not insistent, and the whole feeling produced is one of calm. This is one of the most perfect opening tracks from any album this year, and it is followed by another that is equally majestic and ethereal. `Indian Summer' is a blissful track with its gently moving piano part and slowly resonating strings. `Stokkseyri' has the most densely layered introduction of any song on the album which none the less is gentle in its delivery. This is followed by `Boy 1904' which sounds like a glistening winter landscape with an ethereal choir whispering out into the cold.
Ultimately each track has its own character, beauty and elegance, whether it's the bustling shimmer of `All the Big Trees' or the gently rising pitch of `Howl'. It ultimately sounds like the slow progression of the seasons before final track `Sleeping Giant' lulls you into hibernation with the sound of a crackling fire. This is a skilfully crafted album filled with subtlety and grace. Wake me up when they make the next.
Ultimately each track has its own character, beauty and elegance, whether it's the bustling shimmer of `All the Big Trees' or the gently rising pitch of `Howl'. It ultimately sounds like the slow progression of the seasons before final track `Sleeping Giant' lulls you into hibernation with the sound of a crackling fire. This is a skilfully crafted album filled with subtlety and grace. Wake me up when they make the next.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
easy listening
this album is ok, will keep my ears and eyes open for anything in the future done by this duo
Published 11 days ago by scoop
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mysterious album
Very thoughtful music, some say depressing, but just very slow paced, and drawn out chords. Not for people who love the happy bouncy music of Sigur Ros, but does have a lot of a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love it
This is a very special item, not only for those who love Jonsi & Alex music... Full of surprises and good music!
Published 4 months ago by martina
5.0 out of 5 stars
music to die for
absolutely brilliant,even the wife likes it.I,ve been trying to find the name of a piece of music I heard on a tv programme for a while now ,and lo and behold Boy 1904 is it.Magic
Published 5 months ago by chris rowland
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible!
An epic album by Jonsi & Alex, just buy it, put on a pair of headphones and lose yourself for an hour. Outstanding album!!!
Published 8 months ago by Tj
5.0 out of 5 stars
jonsi & alex
Jonsi & alex create a truly other worldly ambiant album use only accoustic intsruments , creating a natuallistic feel to the record , it's more down to earth then any sigur ros... Read more
Published 16 months ago by fall341
5.0 out of 5 stars
riceboy sleeps
Although clearly influenced by Hammock(for whom Riceboy did the art-work), Jonsi and Alex have developed this genre into something more complex and interesting. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2011 by Philip Herring
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow!.. Truly a hunting CD
After having heard bits of this CD I felt compelled to buy it. Wow I am so pleased I did. It is truly beautiful. Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2011 by sweetfeet
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very lovely thing
I will start by saying I love Sigur Ros - if you dislike them intensely then you will most likely feel the same about this. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2010 by Rowan
5.0 out of 5 stars
best music album in 2009
what can you say thought evoking music that demands respect once you bond it will take you on an original never heard before journey of breathtaking propotions this music breathes... Read more
Published on 6 April 2010 by P. M. Kielty
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