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Icelandic Multi-Instrumentalist Ólafur Arnalds Shines His Fifth Studio Album ‘Some Kind of Peace’
Having stood at the forefront of the ambient-electronic genre for some time now, Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds shows no sign of slowing down whilst also rediscovering a love for the classical on his latest album ‘Some Kind Of Peace’. Recorded at his harbour-based studio in downtown Reykjavik, ‘Some Kind Of Peace’ is the fifth studio album from Arnalds, and it sees him blend together a range of modern musical styles with classical strings and piano superbly.
Whether collaborating with British musician Bonobo on the skittish opening track ‘Loom’, with fellow Icelander JFDR on the gorgeously minimal ‘Back To The Sky’ or with German singer Josin on the dream-inducing ‘The Bottom Line’, there’s a real sense of personal connection on this album. Talking about these collaborations, Arnalds says “all those people were with me at this point in my life, or the experiences that were influencing the album. It would be weird to make a personal album and not include my friends.”
Acting as a much needed mental-salve for the weary, which is surely all of us right now, Arnalds also explains “if there’s one thing that people the world over have learnt these past few pandemic-filled months, it’s that for all our best-laid plans, chaos will always win. All we can do is control how we react to what life gives us.” With ‘Some Kind Of Peace’, Olafur Arnalds has provided the perfect antidote to that chaos.
Ólafur will be playing an intimate show at tonight’s ‘Live in Reykjavík’ online festival, which you can buy tickets for HERE, and you can listen to/buy his new album HERE.