Ólafur Arnalds -...and they have escaped the weight of darkness (Erased Tapes)
4/5
By: Liane Escorza
The title of Ólafur Arnalds’ second album, ‘...and they have escaped the weight of darkness’, clearly confirms the new direction he has taken with regards to his distinguished electronic chamber music with classical arrangements. For those not in the know, Ólafur has previously worked with the likes of Nico Muhly, Damon Albarn, and Sigur Rós. His minimal and detailed melancholia has touched and surprised many, and his involvement in off-the-beaten-track projects for the purposes of pushing his own boundaries is vast. Found Songs, for example, was a collection of pieces each written in a day and released before the end of the week in which they were started, just one of the ‘small’ projects he took onboard while working on ‘...and they have escaped the weight of darkness’. But let’s get to the thick of it.
In contrast to his previous work, ‘...and they have escaped the weight of darkness’ is a shy crossover to greener pastures. There is an additional atmosphere of pop and electronica in these most recent pieces, brought and reinforced by Bar∂i Jóhannsson’s production (he of Bang Gang fame). His interference has created a brighter palette of colours within the compositions - through strings, synthesizers and percussion arrangements, the result is rather uplifting and much richer than before, adding depth and basis to an otherwise metaphorically ethereal and elusive work. Bass, voices, Rhodes and drums have ‘enclosed’ this spacious sound into a bubble of calm sensibility and organic soundscapes.
It’s as if Ólafur had stepped outside his front door in Icelandic Mosfellsbær one day and discovered spring and bloom for the first time. Sincerity and sadness are natural scenes of his musical landscape, yet no matter how freezing the wind chill here may be, there is always room for a spark of bright and candid light.
Artists in this article: Ólafur Arnalds
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