This years 'Dark Was the Night' charity compilation contained the worlds first glimpses at Sigur Ros frontman Jón Þór Birgisson's ethereal side project. Jón (aka Jónsi) and partner Alex Somers have exhibited artwork under the Riceboy Sleeps moniker for a few years, and now they're ready to drop an instrumental debut album as Jón Þór Birgisson & Alex Somers on July 20 in Europe via Parlophone. The album is called Riceboy Sleeps. To be clear: Jónsi is the singer in Sigur Rós, but the debut album from his new side project features no singing.

The 68-minute LP does feature nine tracks "played solely on acoustic instruments in Iceland (and featuring long-time string collaborators Amiina, as well as the Kopavogsdaetur choir) and then endlessly toyed with on solar-powered laptops in a raw food commune in some far corner of Hawaii," according to a press release. I'm sure Al 'manbearpig' Gore would approve.

Head over to the pair's official website @ Riceboy Sleeps to check out videos for album tracks "All the Big Trees" and "Daníell in the Sea". Riceboy Sleeps tracklist is below:

Riceboy Sleeps:

01 Happiness
02 Atlas Song
03 Indian Summer
04 Stokkseyri
05 Boy 1904
06 All the Big Trees
07 Daníell in the Sea
08 Howl
09 Sleeping Giant