Riceboy Sleeps

Jónsi & Alex is the performance name for Sigur Rós frontman Jón Thor Birgisson and his partner, Alex Somers. It is not overstatement to say that what they've made together is one of the most beautifully arresting and emotionally redolent albums of 2009. Riceboy Sleeps shimmers with enchantment.

I recently came across a few “iTunes essentials” playlists that are unfortunately indicative of how “ambient” music has come to be perceived. The Indie chillout playlist features Mogwai, Tortoise, and Sigur Rós. To many listeners, this dynamic (though arguably formulaic) music is “ambient” and “chill,” serving mainly as background to doing homework or falling asleep. While I think that labeling the music of Sigur Rós "ambient" indicates a gross misunderstanding of what ambient music is, the label is perfectly suited to Jónsi and Alex’s debut album/art project.