Ólafur Arnalds - ...and they have escaped the weight of darkness - Erased Tapes

Ólafur Arnalds' second full-length album '...and they have escaped the weight of darkness', continues his mission to lure an indie-generation of pop and rock fans into an emotive world of beguiling electronic chamber music and delicate classical arrangements. The sense of an organic crossover recording is reinforced by the involvement of co-producer Barði Jóhannsson of eccentric pop/rock/electronica-formation Bang Gang.

Barði has successfully coloured the brittle minimalism of previous releases through the addition of an array of new instruments. Those expecting a mere continuation of the minimal melancholia of his previous albums are therefore in for a surprise, as the record may be the most uplifting and richly orchestrated work of his career.

Arnalds' new opus is set to again challenge his fan base, which is still growing rapidly. Several of the pieces were written on and off throughout his 2010 tour and benefit directly from the intensity of the live situation and the emotional roller-coaster-ride of life on the road. He has created an even more open and spacious sound and taken his distinct style to a new level. Compared to his previous works, '...and they have escaped the weight of darkness' makes use of diverse instrumentation – drums, guitars, voice, Rhodes, a selection of subtle synthesisers, alongside Arnalds' trademark piano as well as Tony Levin on bass.

Traditional terminologies become void on his latest offering, which blends contrasting elements into an original, entirely organic new language and a sensitive ballet of the mind. Arnalds fusion of 21st century electronics and classical vocabulary thereby continues to decisively unwrap the sealed-off
world of classical music.

www.olafurarnalds.com
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'Precocious Nordic composer’s sumptuous second LP... Timeless and  
sublime’
****  –UNCUT

‘An artist of immense maturity' (9/10) – Drowned In Sound

‘Meticulous… uplifting and richly orchestrated… peopled with  
languorous ladies
climbing through ice filled caverns' – Clash

'Hotwired to the soul. ...will reduce you to wordless tears' – The  
Quietus

'This set’s effortless poise elevates him to the genre’s upper  
echelons' – BBC Music

'The work is a fascinating collaboration' (4/5) – Guardian

‘Tiny yet detailed scenes in music boxes, charming and sad…
hint at a formidable future for Arnalds’ – Pitchfork

'Mature, modern explorations of life and its unexpected joys,
rendering Arnalds increasingly visible'  Best of What's Next – Paste  
Magazine