ALBUM/ JÓNSI

Go
(Parlophone)

This album, and Jónsi himself, is reason enough to spend half-a-grand to see him at Splendour, hell maybe even worth a whole grand.

Jón Þór Birgisson (Jónsi), the vegetarian, partially blind, falsetto vocalist, mixes powerful drums, strings as well as woodwind to create his first album away from band Sigor Rós .

‘Go’ explodes stunningly from the speakers like the eruption of  the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, as even when the music ‘lava’ ceases, the listener will sit in awe of its brilliance and impact. The nine-song album evokes an unbelievable amount of emotion and involves so many clever effects and sound-perfect instruments, that the effect is evocative of  the ups and downs of life.

This effectiveness could be due to Jónsi’s collaboration on ‘Go’ with musician prodigies such as classical composer Nico Muhly – who has also worked with the likes of Grizzly Bear and Björk – as well as Finnish percussionist Samuli Kosminen (from múm) – who Jónsi, in an interview with Triple J, said predominately used a suitcase as his main drum in ‘Go Do’.

Tapping your foot to 'Boy Lilikoi' and 'Animal Arithmetic' or tearing up to other gems such as 'Tornado' or 'Henglias', this album is one you listen to uncontrollably, setting it on repeat in the shower, on the bus, even while watching television and sitting on the loo.


Upside: ‘Go’ provides refreshing and unusual pop music. Even if you are not a fan, if you have heard even just a snippet, it would be hard not to be intrigued.


Downside: With such a unique voice, this album is very much an acquired taste. Not everyone will enjoy it to its full extent.


Best lyric: "Go drum, too proud/ Make your hands ache - Play it out/ Go march through a crowd/ Make your day break"


Sounds like: Less melancholy than Sigor Ros, and more a celebration of life.