Reviews
'Gorgeous, on-line chamber-glitch success'
**** -
UNCUT
'His most beautiful and beguiling creature yet'
(8/10) -
Drowned In Sound
'Striking, effective and successful. A terrific experiment'
(8/10) -
Clash
'Following on the heels of established Icelandic musicians such as Björk, Sigur Rós, Múm, GusGus and others, Ólafur Arnalds is the latest talent to emerge from this somewhat unlikely North Atlantic sonic hub' -
Intelligent Life
'Mature, modern explorations of life and its unexpected joys, rendering Arnalds increasingly visible'
Best of What's Next -
Paste Magazine (US)
'A hypnotic sonic dream, leading in soulful sincerity'
(9/10) -
Rock Sound
'Its evocative qualities and atmosphere make for a lovely autumn record.' -
Loud And Quiet
'A collection of beautiful minimalist tracks. This modern, maybe post-modern, release takes you back to the pre-digital days, when music was simply beautiful.' -
Magnet (US)
http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2009/10/22/film-at-11-olafur-arnalds/
'This latest outing continues to chart the young Icelandic composer's ascendance. Highly recommended.'
Album of the Week -
Boomkat
'It is a major piece of work in its own right, and deserves to be recognised as nothing less.'
(4.6/5) -
The Milk Factory
'If this essential record is what Arnalds can do in a week, his second album proper can't come soon enough'
(4.5/5) -
musicOMH
'Sublime modern classical composition from Icelandic writer Olafur Arnalds... A haunting, romantic score comprised of minor key piano laments drenched in field noise, cascading string quartets and bubbling electronic torrents. A beautiful work'
Top Release -
Bleep
'Gentle fireworks. Less we spoke, more we listened.'
Aurgasm (US)
'OK I’ve finally been smacked in the face by the charms of Ólafur Arnalds... One of the most moving albums of neo classical music... It really is the soundtrack to the saddest moments in your life. It’s the future... But it’s the present... I can’t quite get my head around it all. This is some seriously beautiful music!'
Album of the Week -
Norman Records
'Ólafur Arnalds is a brilliant everything. I love nothing more than seeing genuine, hardworking, creative people capture attention of audiences, creating instead of complaining and talking. The new music industry is in their hands. The Erased Tapes team is a similarly inspired bunch. This time, he is creating a song a day for a week and is giving it away for free. I am happy people like him exist.' -
Anthony Volodkin, The Hype Machine (US)
'The best piano record of 2009. The return to the essence' -
DE:BUG (DE)
'Is it pop or is it classic? Either way, this is about absolute beauty'
(5/6) -
Tonspion (DE)
'Still his music almost seems to be a bit too perfect'
(9/10) -
Soundmag (DE)
'The man is a machine. His piano pieces lather on the goosebump effect and take us back to an Icelandic landscape, with its fjords, geysers and deep, clear waters. The perfect soundtrack to the end of summer'
Album of the Month -
Café Babel (EU)
'Enchanting Icelandic songsmith Ólafur Arnalds has been a favourite at DiS towers for a while but he's only gone and endeared himself to us even bloody more now!' -
Drowned In Sound
'Rare is the modern composer that edges above and makes classical music cool, yet Ólafur Arnalds does so with grace and simplicity. Arnalds is in many ways like contemporaries Kaada and Greenwood. His style classical music errs on austerity, yet has melodies complex and often paring strife and anxiety with a calming and soothing nature. In Found Songs, Arnalds has effortlessly and skillfully produced a timeless work of art.' -
FensePost (US)
Links
olafurarnalds.com