-
9.0
3640
9.0 |
musicOMH
It's gloriously pedestrian in its unfurling musical narrative. Its lilting layers and gentle yet rich aural vistas occupy a plane higher than popular musical ideas, and to utterly transcending effect…Put simply, it's a deeply beautiful record
Read Review
-
8.0
3637
8.0 |
The Sunday Times
The best ambient album of the year so far. On some tracks, it’s three or four listens before you start to discern the bowing of some string instrument, or the distant sound of a choir
Read Review
-
8.0
3638
8.0 |
The Times
Go back to Jonsi’s “proper” band afterwards and they almost seem brash by comparison
Read Review
-
8.0
3639
8.0 |
Observer Music Monthly
It's an ambient record in the best traditions of Brian Eno or Harold Budd, although the gentle grandeur of a track such as Daníell in the Sea might otherwise bring to mind Mahler. Either way, this is beautifully fragile music, not disposable but built to last
Read Review
-
8.0
3643
8.0 |
Uncut
Print edition only
-
8.0
3644
8.0 |
Q
Print edition only
-
8.0
3646
8.0 |
The Irish Times
Neither as blissed- out nor as beautifully atmospheric as most Sigur Rós music, this wholly instrumental album has its own singular delights.
Read Review
-
8.0
3630
8.0 |
PopMatters
The record has a contradictory way of leaving the listener wholly fulfilled yet desperate for more, a more that may only be fulfilled by the pair taking to the stage in a performance of Riceboy alongside the beautiful Amiina and haunting vocals of the Kópavogsdætur Choir
Read Review
-
8.0
3631
8.0 |
Evening Standard
The nine lengthy tracks tumble into each other but that's no loss since the whole package is as beautiful as it is moving. Easy to listen to rather than easy listening, more for dinner-table discussion than for dinner-party background, it's up there with the best of Sigur Rós
Read Review
-
8.0
3632
8.0 |
The Guardian
Riceboy is, initially, hard work - the first few listens slip by as ethereally as an Enya fart - but deeper investigation reveals reels of lovingly crafted ambience and sounds of the wilderness
Read Review
-
8.0
3634
8.0 |
Scotland on Sunday
Essentially an instrumental affair with barely a squeak from the singer. And it's recorded in the modest surroundings of their Reykjavik home
Read Review
-
7.0
3635
7.0 |
Independent on Sunday
Hymnal, glacial and, yes, Icelandic to a T. If it's nothing more than aural wallpaper, then at least it's the most prettily-detailed kind
Read Review
-
7.0
3636
7.0 |
The Observer
The music emerges as if from inside a mountain, where maidens sing to a sleeping boy amid the creaks, pings, drips and growls of melting ice and the coming spring
Read Review
-
6.0
3628
6.0 |
Spin
Ideally suited for yoga poses or total headphone absorption.
Read Review
-
6.0
3629
6.0 |
Drowned In Sound
It doesn't do enough to be thought of as much more than 'not as good as Sigur Ros'. When you factor into the equation what they’ve shown themselves capable of on the bonus CD, it makes you wonder whether Jónsi & Alex really had their priorities right when they made Riceboy Sleeps
Read Review
-
6.0
3633
6.0 |
The Independent
Ambient music in the classic Eno mould, with tones and drones drifting pleasingly in and out, avoiding the narrative structure of verse, chorus and hook, in favour of a soothing balm of strings and warm keyboard tones
Read Review
-
6.0
3642
6.0 |
Mojo
Print edition only
-
5.3
3645
5.3 |
Pitchfork
Riceboy Sleeps can keep you company in your cubicle or gridlock traffic, though I realize that's not exactly as riveting as ""if there's one ambient album you own this year...!"" But in a necessarily faceless artistic milieu, a Sigur Rós Stamp of Approval might make that the case anyway
Read Review
-
2.0
3641
2.0 |
NME
Print edition only
-