'Go' is the debut solo album from Sigur Ros front man Jonsi Birgisson and follows 2009's 'Riceboy Sleeps' which he recorded with partner Alex Somers. The album moves away from the trademark guitar and reverb drenched sound of Jonsi's work with Sigur Ros instead opting for a more symphonic based sound. Bolstered by string arrangements from Nico Muhly (Grizzly Bear, Antony & The Johnsons) 'Go' still manages to keep the euphoric sound that Sigur Ros have become known for.

Mar 2010

Parlophone Records are proud to bring you the release of 'Go', an exhilarating, joyful and fearless album from Jón Thor Birgisson, known to the world as Jónsi, the lead singer of Sigur Rós. Featuring nine songs drawn from the large pool of material amassed by Jónsi during his many years as singer with Sigur Rós, and arranged in collaboration with classical wunderkind Nico Muhly ("one of the hottest composers on the planet" - Daily Telegraph), ‘Go’ now has a finished sleeve (attached), conceptualised and realised by Jónsi's sisters Inga and Lilja.

Jónsi is also going out on a world tour to promote 'Go'. No simple one-man show with just an acoustic guitar, this will be a bells-and-whistles extravaganza! The shows which start in North America in April will feature a brand new band and a stage set designed by 59 Productions and is going to be drop-dead amazing.

The idea of the stage collaboration with 59 Productions is to bring together the worlds of theatre and music in a new and hopefully unique way, in order to create something other than the hoary old clichés that pass for innovation in rock'n'roll. The ideas remain very much "in development", but there will be some surprises, for sure.

There's been a lot of stories about Sigur Rós scrapping an album and going on “indefinite hiatus” recently. There’s nothing to worry about - they're all very happily having babies and preparing new Sigur Rós projects to come. But in the meantime Jónsi is stepping firmly into the limelight and 'Go' – the album and tour – is his baby. It's going to be a thing of wonder!!

• Spin - "[Each song] retains an inimitable singer's sound but adds oxygen-rich breathing room."
• Mojo - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Iceland's nature boy remains transfixed by planetary, Sigury wonder."
• Entertainment Weekly - "'Go Do' and 'Animal Arithmetic' benefit from kaleidoscopic art-pop arrangements by hot-shot composer Nico Muhly." -- Grade: B+
• Uncut - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]here's an adrenalised shiver to this that echoes Animal Collecitve....This is exhilarating."
• Billboard - "Having driven Sigur Ros' music in a more poppy direction on recent albums, Jonsi descends into pure pop on his new collection of songs, using instrumentation ranging from harpsichords to flutes."
• Rolling Stone (p.69) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "When the loops and beats are kicking up dust, the man's blissful blues feel earned."
  Spin (p.86) - "[Each song] retains an inimitable singer's sound but adds oxygen-rich breathing room."
  Entertainment Weekly (p.71) - "'Go Do' and 'Animal Arithmetic' benefit from kaleidoscopic art-pop arrangements by hot-shot composer Nico Muhly." -- Grade: B+
  Mojo (Publisher) (p.96) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Iceland's nature boy remains transfixed by planetary, Sigury wonder."
  Pitchfork (Website) - "[W]hat truly elevates GO is J nsi's voice, which still has the ability to stun a decade after AGAETIS BYRJUN introduced most listeners to his alien bleats."
  Clash (magazine) - "Composer Nico Muhly is on production duties, crafting a gorgeous, glitchy and complex sonic landscape. Opener 'Go Do' is all jittery electronics and fluttering flutes..."
  Uncut (magazine) (p.94) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]here's an adrenalised shiver to this that echoes Animal Collecitve....This is exhilarating."