...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness

There is only one phrase I can think of to aptly describe the new album from Ólafur Arnalds. 

And that is, as the soundtrack of a broken heart.

I have been a fan of Ólafur Arnalds almost since his initial arrival on the neo-classical scene in 2007 with his mindblowing debut, Eulogy for Evolution. I remember being astounded that a musician of only twenty years of age could produce something so emotively charged... something so mature. It is only recently that his second complete 'studio album' (for there are other projects of his out there) hit the streets. It does not dissappoint...

It is an album which is difficult to speak of in musical terms, but lends itself to description in terms of light and dark, of weights, maybe even colours, and, of course, emotions. Ólafur's musical task is different to that of many other contemporary classical composers, in that he often fuses indie, electro sounds into his work. Similarly, although his music centres around a solitary and desolate piano, you will find a variety of instruments incorporated such as drums, an agile strings section, and of course synth. Arnalds' has stated that his aim is to mix his classical sound with those contemporary in popular and indie music. This gives him a sound which I would be reticent to compare to that of any other groups, but in some ways seems in keeping with the contemporary musical output of his home country, Iceland, which has been the home of many post-rock-esque, neoclassical groups in the past.

Like his previous albums, ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness is a work which is deeply melancholic, one could go as far as depressive. It is the sort of music which is capable of invoking a barrage of emotion which is sometimes hard to categorise and understand. Unlike Eulogy of Evolution, however, where the album spirals into a overwhelming and dizzying climax of emotion, it is clear that this new album is much more balanced. This, of course, can be interpreted as either a good thing or a bad thing depending on taste. The album takes a course which retains a sense of brooding sadness, but listeners will find that where they least expect it a wistful, and struggling light can be found in the music, which breaks through triumphantly causing the music to blossom and revel in its own beauty.

This sense of 'balance' does not just pervade the progress of the work as a whole, but also the individual tracks themselves, which are composed with utmost delicacy and attention to detail. The richness of the music is expressed through its cadences, its crescendos, and the timbre of sounds which resonate through the whole album giving it a cohesiveness which makes each track a single fragment in a much wider musical vision. Although the classical instrumentation of the album is top notch, surprisingly powerful bouts of musical climax are expressed through Olafur's carefully positioned use of drumming and (increasingly economical) use of synth, which really take tracks such as Tunglið and Þau hafa sloppið undan þunga myrkursins to a much higher level of musical complexity, and increase the depth of sound within a genre which is often criticised for its shallowness and minimalism. It is in these instances that the contemporary style that Ólafur aims for is most obvious.

Drowned in Sound have said that the album 'is not a sudden tidal wave of emotion laid on thick, but a glacial melting of mournfulness,' a statement I couldn't agree with more. The melancholy of the album, though intense, seems to wash over the listener and be replaced at times with fleeting glimpses of optimism. But regardless of this, it still remains one of the most melancholy and touching pieces of music I've ever heard. I'm not sure I'd rate it above his debut Eulogy for Evolution but it certainly gives it a run for its money. There are few people out there at the moment with the same vision as Ólafur Arnalds, a vision which works so well. The album is an incredibly rewarding listen, and one of the most emotionally resonant works of art I've had the pleasure of experiencing. It could even be my favourite album so far this year...

The album can be bought at Erased Tapes

Spotify users can listen to his first album, and his musical 'experiment' Found Songs here

And here's a little taster of the new album for all of you.