Ólafur Arnalds - ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness (2010)

Looking forward to my favourite albums from the Erased Tapes label living their best life over the coming winter months, so here's something from Ólafur Arnalds, in his second album.  Still in his early twenties when this album was put together, the former thrash metal drummer and Sigur Ros touring musician solidified his modern classical thumbprint here.

Mostly based around piano and strings, a lot of this will immediately appeal to fans of the late Jóhann Jóhannsson, although with subtler use of electronics here (check Gleypa Okkur for about the only incidence); Arnalds at this point was more interested in simple melodies and understated scoring.  It never becomes too sacchrine or dull though, and does have moments when you can tell this is someone with a rock background, as on the aforementioned track or in the drums on Tunglið (which reminds me of sometime labelmate Ben Lukas Boysen a bit).  Gorgeous Icelandic chilliness all round.

link
pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG: Collaborative Works with Nils Frahm

Nils Frahm & Ólafur Arnalds - Collaborative Works (2015 compi, rec. 2011-15)

Back to Erased Tapes, with a compilation that does exactly what it says on the tin: brings together an hour's worth of EP tracks recorded by labelmates & close friends Nils Frahm & Ólafur Arnalds.  Then tops it off with a bonus 40 minutes drawn from an evening's improvisations whilst planning the reissue of the EPs.

The EP tracks find both artists in a much more pure electronic mode that they normally operate in, most notably on the superb 25 minutes of Loon, recorded 2014 and originally released as a 12" the following year.  They skirt the edges of Cluster-esque minimalism before taking a full-on dive into it with the standout tracks W and M.  This is followed by the three untitled tracks of 2012's more atmospheric Stare EP.  German cellist Anne Müller (who had previously collaborated with Frahm on 2009's 7Fingers album) proves an inspired and understated third partner on the longest track.  Lastly, the 2015 7" (recorded in 2012) Life Story/Love & Glory returns to the more familiar piano-and-ambience of Felt.

As noted above, when meeting up to arrange the EP compilation, Frahm and Arnalds decided to record a new exclusive track for it.  This turned in to an entire evening of spontaneous loveliness, and was titled Trance Frendz, receiving its own vinyl release in 2016.  The first three tracks are again in Felt mode, based around gentle piano and electronics, and washes of harmonium in 23:17 (each track is named after the time recording started).  Then there's a change of scenery with 23:52's swelling synth and harmonium atmosphere, and the pure electronics of 00:26.  Entering the small hours, everything mellows out once more with tinkling piano and music box ambience.  Essential, gorgeous music from start to finish.

Disc 1 link
Disc 2 link