Description: This debut album from Jon Thor "Jonsi" Birgisson, the voice of Icelandic post-rockers Sigur Ros, was written and recorded with his partner Alex Somers, with whom he has also produced an acclaimed body of visual art. With strings performed by long-term Sigur Ros collaborators Amiina and a contribution by the Kopavogsdaetur choir, the album is a lush, blissful ambient experience, sounding much like Sigur Ros but shornof the rock instrumentation, huge build-ups and epic crescendos.
My review: After discovering, and loving, Jonsi’s album, Go, I had to find out if his collaboration with his partner, Alex Somers, was just as good. And it is, but it’s also very different from Jonsi’s solo project. This album is not solely Jonsi’s work, you don’t get the soaring falsetto voice soothing you and there’s no energizing drum beats.
The album is as good as any classical symphony I’ve ever heard, truly beautiful and very well orchestrated and produced. Not just ‘traditional’ instruments, you hear things in the music that are more ‘natural’, more organic, sounds of water, voices (human and animal), air and more. Some of the tracks have an, almost, hypnotic calmness about them, beautifully haunting.
The innocent young, fresh, choral work on Boy 1904 gave me chills and goosebumps. Truly angelic voices and beautiful uplifting sounds to raise them to new heights.
With a sound of pure ambient blissfulness that can transport you to a calm zone away from the everyday struggles of the day. I haven’t done Yoga in a number of years, but I could quite imagine this would be amazing for meditating to. The natural sounds within the tracks make you conjure visions of rippling water, wind-chimes, tall swaying grass in the calm breeze and more.
This isn’t just music, this is musical art, it’s beautiful, uplifting, calming. It gives you inner peace that life can swipe out from under your feet with the everyday grind of living. I shall definitely listen to this again, when I need to relax, and preferably when the children are not around, maybe after they’ve gone to bed or are at school. Highly recommend for anyone looking to zone out and chillax. Run a big hot bubble bath, put candles around the bathroom, play this while you sip a nice glass of wine or a bottle of beer (if that’s your preference) and feel the tranquility wash over you.
Jonsi and Alex's website can be found here.
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