Riceboy Sleeps: Riceboy Sleeps
Sigur Ros' lead singer embarks on side project Riceboy Sleeps
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Thursday, 02, Jul 2009 10:33
Parlophone, out July 20th.
In a nutshell...
An orchestra trapped in a kettle.
What's it all about?
Welcome to aural art, ladies and gentlemen. Imagine you're in an art exhibition. Close your eyes and let art come to you through the medium of song. Or something. Let's put it this way: it's not really that easy to know what it's all about, so you'll have to jump in feet first.
Who's it by?
Anyone who's anyone will know of Sigur Ros in one form or another, whether they know it or not. The four-piece band from Reykjavik are on a minor hiatus at the moment while singer Jon Thor Birgisson creates this strange ensemble with partner Alex Somers.
However, many Sigur Ros fans - who are generally known for their openness to new styles of music which the band have taught them - will struggle to get to grips with this. Casual listeners may never have heard a collection like it in their lives.
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Through a soundtrack; otherwise, it's not going to happen. One for the fans, it seems.
What the others say
"Complete musical experiences of this calibre are rare, so beautifully its draining narrative that its impact would falter on repeat but become profoundly reassuring if you were to die while listening." - Daily Music Guide
"Riceboy Sleeps' debut may not live up to the expectations of some fans of Sigur Ros but it doesn't fall under the weight of them either, and though it may trace an idea or two from elsewhere it is still a work of enough independence and starry-eyed wonder to warrant investigation." - Contactmusic
So is it any good?
You know, this will be one of the toughest albums to listen to during the entirety of 2009. The stage is set, given the links to Sigur Ros. The project is even more diverse than the Icelandic post-rock project which has been popular for well over a decade. And yet... well, it's not really a music album.
The thing is, Jon and Alex have created this as an art exhibition piece, first and foremost. One which we can imagine features a lot of bright white walls, functional right-angles and one solitary speaker pumping out Riceboy Sleeps.
It's halfway between an orchestra and a windy day; the music sometimes comes through, just a little bit worse for wear - that's if you hear it, of course.
The worst thing is that it's not tough to listen to for any bad reasons as such - just getting a handle on what's going on is tough, which makes the album more unnerving than it is enjoyable.
That said, there are a few interesting songs on here. Happiness sounds more like it's an atmospheric track with similar production values to those of Carter Burwell, famous for the soundtrack to Being John Malkovich. The orchestral tones sound great but there isn't really a tune. It's very hard to dislike and it seems to serve a very distinct purpose in fulfilling the title from minute one, yet it still feels somewhat hollow - as if something's about to emerge.
Stokkseyri is very similar, though it's more reminiscent of Michael Nyman's works, aside from an overriding and intrusive string set which may slowly annoy many.
Indian Summer is a genuinely great tune. It's full of delicate sounds which somehow fuse together for a very relaxing experience. The same can be said for Boy 1904, which uses choral vocals to a brilliant effect.
However, with some songs it can get too much. Many of the songs start to blend in with one another and it can become pretty painful - Jon and Alex just hold notes for too damn long and it always feels as if it's over the top of the real action, so to speak. You may finding yourself changing the track out of genuine agitation, only to find the same problem on the next one.
The explanation which accompanied the CD seemed to overdo it a bit on the pomp, which also didn't lend it much credit. Instead of describing Sleeping Giant as "the one where nothing actually happens", it is put down as a track which appears "to feature actual breathing, albeit through some kind of underwater respirator".
If poeticism is the only way to convey Sleeping Giant, it would be "like listening to embarrassing drizzle bounce off a sieve of despair".
Then again, it explains that the entire album is "awash with both tension and stimuli". This may be the case, it's just hard to know how many people will have total receptiveness to this brand of music.
It's hard to conclude this way. After seeing all the good work put in with Sigur Ros, it's really hard to accept this as the next step for Jon Thor. Everyone likes a bit of a change and we all want musicians to push boundaries, but when you need an explanation behind each song to feel a connection for the most part of the experience, there's something not quite right.
Upon reading this, people will no doubt gasp in horror. It's the kind of release which many will brand a piece of intellectual ingenuity, give it ridiculously high marks and adore until their dying days.
What's so frustrating about the entire experience is that despite the beauty that the tracks hold - or at least purport, it all seems that little bit too arty - too self-aware - to make itself into a genuine contender, which is what a lot of people will expect.
The worst thing is, many may question their own understanding of this style of art and thus think it's a masterpiece anyway.
It's a good listen and there are two or three well-executed and beautiful tracks. It could've been so much more, though.
6/10
Matt Gardner