I have been a fan of Sigur Rós since Ageatis Byrjun was released, an epic album that transformed the way I listened to and wrote music. On the behest of Radiohead’s recommendation I fell in love with the band; everything they touched was gold for me, and still is. When I caught wind that their lead singer Jónsi was planning a solo album, I was, as you could imagine, very excited. On the heels of Jónsi’s collaborative ambient induced album with Alex Sommers, Rice Boy Sleeps, he has finally released an album by himself. Go is a turn towards optimism, featuring upbeat songs filled with life and energy.
The first track on the album, “Go Do,” is packed full of sporadic moments and joyous imagery that floods your ears with instruments and vocals. Nobody has a voice like Jónsi, but there are others things that he does with his vocals that are light-years ahead of his time. Layering snippets of his falsetto squeaks and squawks at certain points in a songs progression adds a certain secondary percussion that leaves no gaps empty. “Animal Arithmetic” is probably the most excitable song on the album. Jónsi sings quickly and the drums are fluttering and pounding, somehow simultaneously thanks to the Swedish drummer Samuli Kosminen. You immediately realize by this point that the encompassing effect of the music is almost too much to handle. It is hard to explain the extent of this wall of sound. Nico Muhly, who has worked with Grizzly Bear, stretches his pallet of sound outwards to the boundaries of the audible universe. “Tornado” slows the pace down, giving the listener a chance to readjust their equilibrium, which is just enough time to prepare oneself for the explosively fragile “Boy Lilikoi.”
Jónsi has always occupied a child-like innocence that has illuminated the progressively overbearing activities of proving one’s maturity through complex and overthought music. Jónsi is here to let people know that it is okay to make music that let’s go of those preconceptions. You can stop trying so hard to be impressive and just have fun.
“Sinking Friendships” and “Kolnidur” are carried by beautiful melodies that float towards the slower song of Sigur Rós. “Around Us” surges with a little more intensity and then trails off with an ambient refrain, while “Grow Till Tall,” a powerfully slow-moving song sounds like the lost sibling of “Festival,” a track on Sigur Rós’ last full-length release. The album ends with the ambience of “Hengilas,” slow moving and beautifully awe-inspiring.
This brings me to my only complaint. I sincerely missed Jónsi’s guitar playing on this album, little if any guitar is played at all. I know this isn’t a Sigur Rós album, and I know that Jónsi is creating a sound all his own, which he does with this release, but the texture of bow on guitar that he has perfected, is one of the most incredible sounds these ears have ever heard. I would have felt a little empty if it weren’t for the plethora of other instruments bombarding me from all sides. Nevertheless, this is a great album and certainly a recommendation. Listen.
