The vast majority of music out there does one of three things: it makes your body move, stimulates the mind, or evokes emotions. Jónsi and Alex, however, have apparently stumbled upon some rare key that unlocks a door to the soul, allowing them to engage with the listener on a level that is as powerful as it is uncommon.

Jónsi (Jon Thor Birgisson), who serves as frontman of the epic Icelandic group Sigur Rós, has been collaborating with his partner Alex Somers since 2003. It is only now, six years later, that their multimedia experiences have culminated into their first album, Riceboy Sleeps. When the two first met, Alex was financially down-and-out, and therefore lived entirely off of rice and slept far more than normal. The nickname that Jónsi gave to Alex soon became a catchall moniker for their musical and artistic collaborations before they officially dubbed themselves “Jónsi and Alex.”

While Riceboy Sleeps shares an ethereal, transcendent quality with Sigur Rós, it lacks the highs, lows, and dynamic crescendos that are a driving force behind the band’s sound. Whereas Sigur Rós is like the alternating ebb and flow of the tide, crashing in with all the overwhelming power of nature and then receding back into a state of calm, Riceboy Sleeps feels more like floating far out at sea. I have to admit that my first listen made me a little impatient, as I was expecting something a bit more melodic and vigorous. After experiencing each song several times, my mind instinctively shifted into the appropriate gear to fully understand what it has to offer. The nine tracks on the album flow seamlessly into one another, creating a sound scape that magnetically pulls you toward a state of peaceful bliss.

Most art imitates life, but this music embodies it. Recorded at their home in Iceland and mixed in Hawaii, the album has an unmistakably organic quality to it. The piano notes that open “Stokkseyri” have such a natural and rhythmic shift in dynamics that they seem to perfectly mimic the sound of falling raindrops. “Daniell in the Sea,” with its wordless choir and rich, resounding cello, reminds me of the slow waves and whirling winds of the ocean. “Indian Summer,” perhaps the most compelling track on the album, is a perfect example of its signature song structure. Clocking in at over nine minutes long, it patiently builds to a slow and steady climax. Ushered in by violins expressing a deep yearning and Jónsi’s only vocal appearance on the album, the peak of this song was worth every second of the wait.

A limited edition box set was available for preorder, but unfortunately all 3,500 copies are already spoken for. The box set includes a hardcover fine art book illustrated by Jónsi and Alex themselves, with pages adorned by children walking on stilts and graceful flying birds illustrated in a sketchy, unpolished style. It also comes along with a coloring book, six colored pencils made from sustainable forests, a bonus ED called “All Animals,” and a pin. Between the music and the box set, it’s easy to tell that Jónsi and Alex are a delightfully talented duo who are committed to quality as well as artistry.