Country : Iceland Label : Mercury KX Genres and styles : Electronic / Neoclassical Year : 2020

Some Kind of Peace

· by Alain Brunet

So why is Ólafur Arnalds such a huge success? Why does this Icelandic drummer and guitarist, a convert to neo-chamber music, fill large halls and touch hundreds of thousands of music lovers around the world? It’s already been laid out, having worked very well for him since at least 2007. Just in case, here’s the recipe again: delicate melodies, economy of harmonic modulations, very simple structures for strings stroked or plucked by high-end, classically trained musicians, finely chiselled electronic ornaments, a few guests in this case – the singers Jófríður Ákadóttir and Josin, the DJ and composer Bonobo. No matter how hard one looks, this new album doesn’t reveal much about Arnalds’ art. These chamber works are losing their substance over the course of the 14 recordings (albums and EPs) under his signature, the freshness and emotional charge of his proposals gradually giving way to impressions of bathos and boredom. As time goes by, Arnalds is still surfing on the same equations, and may eventually run out of waves. If this once-inspired composer does not make the necessary effort to flesh out his orchestral discourse and get out of his comfort zone, he’s doomed to repeat himself.

Latest 360 Content

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Piknic 3: A Little Bit of Everything Under the Sun

Piknic 3: A Little Bit of Everything Under the Sun

Cazzu – Latinaje

Cazzu – Latinaje

Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

SMCQ | In memoriam Jocelyn Morlock

SMCQ | In memoriam Jocelyn Morlock

Abbey Road at Festival Classica

Abbey Road at Festival Classica

Mira Choquette – Hier encore

Mira Choquette – Hier encore

Jared Dunn; Anna Gorecka – Gorecki’s World of the Piano

Jared Dunn; Anna Gorecka – Gorecki’s World of the Piano

Cyrille Dubois; Tristan Raës – Dupont : The Complete Songs

Cyrille Dubois; Tristan Raës – Dupont : The Complete Songs

Nic Ferron Trio – Multiverse

Nic Ferron Trio – Multiverse

Hayti Lives by Vox Sambou, “Duty to Reflect His Times”.

Hayti Lives by Vox Sambou, “Duty to Reflect His Times”.

MIKE & Tony Seltzer – Pinball II

MIKE & Tony Seltzer – Pinball II

TVOD – Party Time

TVOD – Party Time

Mystical Ceilings & Sonic Architects: Night Two at Exposé Noir with Helena Hauff, Wata Igarashi & Polygonia

Mystical Ceilings & Sonic Architects: Night Two at Exposé Noir with Helena Hauff, Wata Igarashi & Polygonia

Francis Choinière and his OPCM celebrate 10 years with Mahler

Francis Choinière and his OPCM celebrate 10 years with Mahler

The Space is a Headliner: The Story of Exposé Noir

The Space is a Headliner: The Story of Exposé Noir

Velvet Fog & Hard Techno: A Night at Exposé Noir with Yazzus, Tiga & DJ Tool

Velvet Fog & Hard Techno: A Night at Exposé Noir with Yazzus, Tiga & DJ Tool

Piknic 1: A magic formula

Piknic 1: A magic formula

Let’s Yiddish’n’roll with Kallisto!

Let’s Yiddish’n’roll with Kallisto!

Mclusky – the world is still here and so are we

Mclusky – the world is still here and so are we

Triathalon – Funeral Music

Triathalon – Funeral Music

Stereo Africa Festival – Endless Concerts

Stereo Africa Festival – Endless Concerts

Subscribe to our newsletter