Jónsi & Alex Somers, “Chapter One” (Krúnk)
Sigur Rós vocalist Jónsi and Alex Somers‘s 2009 album Riceboy Sleeps floats not a million miles from the singer’s Icelandic group’s own grandiose, ethereal post-rock. But this is still an ambient endeavor, mainly composed of long, glistening instrumental passages with occasional vocal glazing and angelic ululations by Jónsi. These tracks tread a fine line between somnolent and sublime, usually falling into the latter camp.
The two artists are finally touring behind Riceboy Sleeps in honor of its 10th anniversary, along with Wordless Music Orchestra, conducted by Robert Ames and arranged by David Handler. You can catch them Friday, October 11 at the Paramount Theatre.
The record’s peak is its longest—the 20-minute “Chapter One” (which is actually part of the Riceboy Sleeps bonus EP, All Animals). Jónsi and Somers set aloft gorgeous cumulus-cloud synths of celestial bliss (or is this Jónsi’s glacial coo extended to infinity?) over the crepuscular horizon, then crosshatch them with tinkling piano clusters that occasionally evoke the shivery trance moves of Terry Riley‘s In C. There are moments in “Chapter One”‘s second half that approach the liturgical majesty of German kosmische immortals Popol Vuh—sky-high praise.
This whole album sounds tailor-made for Alex Ruder‘s Pacific Notions, which airs Sunday mornings on KEXP. If that’s your jam, you’re going to need this music in your life.
