Icelandic music composer Ólafur Arnalds has spent the majority of his professional career bridging the gap between classical music and the more mass-appealing world of ambient pop and electronic. His latest sonic wonder comes in the form of his fifth full length studio album, titled some kind of peace. The project, which was produced at his Reykjavik-based studio, includes 10 original tracks and collaborative contributions from Bonobo, JFDR and Josin. The record comes on Mercury KX,
the same imprint to release Arnalds’ For Now I Am Winter and Island Songs projects, as well as works from Solomon Great and Guy Sigsworth. Being just 38 minutes in length, it doesn’t take long to get into the thick of it, with a wave of emotional piano keys and caressing synth arrangements, which Ólafur scatters with loosely planted percussive rhythms and chilling vocals.
Where to start:
Loom – Melodic album opener that features Bonobo
Back To The Sky – Bouncy percussion and chilling vocal harmonies
Undone – Soul-touching string arrangements and blissful piano keys
Previous from Ólafur Arnalds:
Re:member LP (2018, Mercury KX)
Living Room Songs EP (2011, Erased Tapes)
If you like this then check out:
Nils Frahm – Empty (2020, Erased Tapes)
Rival Consoles – Persona LP (2018, Erased Tapes)
Ólafur Arnalds – some kind of peace is out now on Mercury RX.