Browse by Artist: ARNALDS, OLAFUR

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	Eulogy for Evolution
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ERATP 004CD

This is the debut release by Iceland's Ólafur Arnalds and the first North American release for the London-based cinematic music label Erased Tapes Records. Arnalds has immersed himself completely in the world of delicate symphonic composition in a near-weightless orchestral undertaking. Mixing strings with loops, ambience, electronics and beats, Arnalds combines classical instrumentation with an indie-rock aesthetic that draws comparison to Sigur Rós. Eulogy for Evolution is an evocative, orchestral suite that takes the listener on a journey, representing different periods of life from birth to death through slow-building and hauntingly melodic chamber music. It comes with a free download voucher for the 11-track Erased Tapes Collection I compilation to celebrate the label's 1st anniversary. Ólafur Arnalds and his live string quartet performed at unique venues in the UK, including the oldest custom-built concert hall in Europe, the Holywell Music Room in Oxford, before they continued playing mostly sold-out shows throughout the rest of Europe. Over 500 people came to see Ólafur at the State-X Newforms Festival in Den Haag alongside Aphex Twin, as well as at Iceland Airwaves with Amiina and Jóhann Jóhannsson in Brussels. He is already working on his second full-length record and a string arrangement for Erased Tapes friends, 65daysofstatic.

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	Eulogy for Evolution
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	LP
Price:	$23.00
Catalog #:	ERATP 004LP

2008 release, repressed on deluxe LP. This is the debut release by Iceland's Ólafur Arnalds and the first North American release for the London-based cinematic music label Erased Tapes Records. Arnalds has immersed himself completely in the world of delicate symphonic composition in a near-weightless orchestral undertaking. Mixing strings with loops, ambience, electronics and beats, Arnalds combines classical instrumentation with an indie-rock aesthetic that draws comparison to Sigur Rós. Eulogy for Evolution is an evocative, orchestral suite that takes the listener on a journey, representing different periods of life from birth to death through slow-building and hauntingly melodic chamber music.

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	Variations of Static
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.00
Catalog #:	ERATP 008CD

This is the follow-up EP to Ólafur Arnalds' debut release for Erased Tapes, Eulogy for Evolution. While keeping the classical foundations of his debut album, on Variations of Static, Arnalds incorporates crackling electronics and the dead voice of a machine; like vague memories of a tradition lost within the digital age we all live in. It comes with a free download voucher for the 11-track Erased Tapes Collection I compilation to celebrate the label's 1st anniversary.

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	Variations of Static
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	10"
Price:	$19.50
Catalog #:	ERATP 008EP

2008 release, repressed on vinyl; 10" version. This is the follow-up EP to Ólafur Arnalds' debut release for Erased Tapes, Eulogy for Evolution. While keeping the classical foundations of his debut album, on Variations of Static, Arnalds incorporates crackling electronics and the dead voice of a machine; like vague memories of a tradition lost within the digital age we all live in. It comes with a free download voucher for the 11-track Erased Tapes Collection I compilation to celebrate the label's 1st anniversary.

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	Found Songs
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	ERATP 017CD

In April 2009, Iceland's neo-classical export Ólafur Arnalds created the 7-song series Found Songs -- recording a song a day for 7 days and instantly making each track available via Twitter. With artwork contributions from fans via Flickr, this modern release awakens memories of a tradition that seemed lost in the digital age we live in. Born in 1987, Ólafur hails from the suburban Icelandic town, Mosfellsbær, just a few kilometres outside of Reykjavík. He has immersed himself completely in a world of delicate symphonic compositions generating near weightless orchestral pieces. Arnalds explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet electronics which makes him a perfect fit for cinematic pop label Erased Tapes. This young artist has been steadily gaining recognition worldwide since his 2007 debut Eulogy for Evolution (ERATP 004CD). The 2008 follow-up EP Variations of Static earned Ólafur acclaim from both the contemporary and classical field -- transcending a traditional divide by uniting their ideals. After filling London's world-famous Barbican Hall, fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós invited Ólafur to open some of their European shows, playing to an audience of over 5,000 per night. In anticipation of another full-length release, Ólafur conceived Found Songs as a way to collate several lost-and-found musical sketches and ideas in a "very challenging, but fun" series. The experiment offers its listeners an intimate insight into Ólafur Arnalds' creative world. The songs are different from Arnalds' previous output -- comprised mostly of shorter piano suites and electronics-embellished, string-led ruminations -- and so far, more than 70,000 people downloaded the Found Songs series via foundsongs.erasedtapes.com. Each track inspired a wealth of artwork from his fans -- submitted via Flickr. Hosting this project on their official web site, Erased Tapes Records watched the collaboration between Arnalds and his online audience flourish, and found it fitting to combine the music and artwork into one complete work. This is a limited edition, re-mastered physical release, available on CD and in a 10" vinyl version.

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	Dyad 1909
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	ERATP 019CD

A contemporary dance score for award-winning British choreographer Wayne McGregor inspired by Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev (1872-1929). 2009 proved quite a year for Iceland's neo-classical export Ólafur Arnalds. Still high on the success of his 7-song series Found Songs, Ólafur was approached by the world-renowned and critically-acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor to create a 30-minute score for his ambitious new work Dyad 1909. The dance piece, inspired and created "In The Spirit of Diaghilev," premiered at the Sadler's Wells theater in October 2009 and became an unpredictable and much talked-about 5 nights of live music, dance and visuals. Born in 1987, Ólafur hails from the suburban Icelandic town, Mosfellsbær, just outside of Reykjavík. He has immersed himself completely in a world of delicate symphonic compositions, generating near weightless orchestral pieces. Arnalds explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet electronics. This young artist is steadily gaining recognition worldwide since his 2007 debut Eulogy For Evolution and the 2008 follow-up EP Variations Of Static. In April 2009, online experiment Found Songs received more than 200,000 downloads via foundsongs.erasedtapes.com and the physical edition was an instant best-seller, demonstrating that music in its physical format still attains a particular charm. "It's an amazing piece of music -- it's melancholic and spatial then cuts to extreme rhythmic violence -- it's hauntingly inspiring." --Wayne McGregor, Random Dance

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	Dyad 1909
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	10"
Price:	$22.50
Catalog #:	ERATP 019EP

Limited 10" version with digital download code. A contemporary dance score for award-winning British choreographer Wayne McGregor inspired by Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev (1872-1929). 2009 proved quite a year for Iceland's neo-classical export Ólafur Arnalds. Still high on the success of his 7-song series Found Songs, Ólafur was approached by the world-renowned and critically-acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor to create a 30-minute score for his ambitious new work Dyad 1909. The dance piece, inspired and created "In The Spirit of Diaghilev," premiered at the Sadler's Wells theater in October 2009 and became an unpredictable and much talked-about 5 nights of live music, dance and visuals. Born in 1987, Ólafur hails from the suburban Icelandic town, Mosfellsbær, just outside of Reykjavík. He has immersed himself completely in a world of delicate symphonic compositions, generating near weightless orchestral pieces. Arnalds explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet electronics. This young artist is steadily gaining recognition worldwide since his 2007 debut Eulogy For Evolution and the 2008 follow-up EP Variations Of Static. In April 2009, online experiment Found Songs received more than 200,000 downloads via foundsongs.erasedtapes.com and the physical edition was an instant best-seller, demonstrating that music in its physical format still attains a particular charm. "It's an amazing piece of music -- it's melancholic and spatial then cuts to extreme rhythmic violence -- it's hauntingly inspiring." --Wayne McGregor, Random Dance

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	ERATP 022CD

Ólafur Arnalds' highly-anticipated second full-length album ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness continues his mission to lure an indie-generation of pop and rock fans into an emotive world of beguiling electronic chamber music and delicate, classical arrangements. The sense of an organic crossover recording is reinforced by the involvement of co-producer Barði Jóhannsson of eccentric pop/rock/electronica-formation Bang Gang. Barði has successfully colored the brittle minimalism of previous releases through the addition of an array of new instruments. Those expecting a mere continuation of the minimal melancholia of his previous albums are therefore in for a surprise, as the record may be the most uplifting and richly-orchestrated work of his career. When Ólafur saw how the opening scene of a Hungarian indie film metaphorically described a solar eclipse, he instantly connected it to the concept, naming the album after a key line of the film's introductory monologue. Born in the suburban Icelandic town of Mosfellsbær, a few kilometers outside of Reykjavík, the composer has always enjoyed pushing boundaries with both his studio work and his live-shows. His new opus is set to again challenge his fan base, which is still growing rapidly. Several of these pieces were written on and off throughout his tour and benefit directly from the intensity of the live situation and the emotional roller-coaster-ride of life on the road. On the other hand, it is the result of meticulous studio work, of refining compositions in close co-operation with compatriot Barði Johannsson, known for his eccentric personality and unique electro-acoustic sound. The enthusiasm translates to arrangements displaying a new sense of sonic diversity. Ólafur Arnalds has created an even more open and spacious sound and taken his distinct style to a new level. Compared to his previous works, ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness makes use of diverse instrumentation -- drums, guitars, voice, Rhodes, a selection of subtle synthesizers, alongside Arnalds' trademark piano as well as Tony Levin on bass. Traditional terminologies become void on his latest offering, which blends contrasting elements into an original, entirely organic new language and a sensitive ballet of the mind. Arnalds' fusion of 21st-century electronics and classical vocabulary thereby continues to decisively unwrap the sealed-off world of classical music.

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	LP
Price:	$25.00
Catalog #:	ERATP 022LP

Limited edition gatefold vinyl version. Ólafur Arnalds' highly-anticipated second full-length album ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness continues his mission to lure an indie-generation of pop and rock fans into an emotive world of beguiling electronic chamber music and delicate, classical arrangements. The sense of an organic crossover recording is reinforced by the involvement of co-producer Barði Jóhannsson of eccentric pop/rock/electronica-formation Bang Gang. Barði has successfully colored the brittle minimalism of previous releases through the addition of an array of new instruments. Those expecting a mere continuation of the minimal melancholia of his previous albums are therefore in for a surprise, as the record may be the most uplifting and richly-orchestrated work of his career. When Ólafur saw how the opening scene of a Hungarian indie film metaphorically described a solar eclipse, he instantly connected it to the concept, naming the album after a key line of the film's introductory monologue. Born in the suburban Icelandic town of Mosfellsbær, a few kilometers outside of Reykjavík, the composer has always enjoyed pushing boundaries with both his studio work and his live-shows. His new opus is set to again challenge his fan base, which is still growing rapidly. Several of these pieces were written on and off throughout his tour and benefit directly from the intensity of the live situation and the emotional roller-coaster-ride of life on the road. On the other hand, it is the result of meticulous studio work, of refining compositions in close co-operation with compatriot Barði Johannsson, known for his eccentric personality and unique electro-acoustic sound. The enthusiasm translates to arrangements displaying a new sense of sonic diversity. Ólafur Arnalds has created an even more open and spacious sound and taken his distinct style to a new level. Compared to his previous works, ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness makes use of diverse instrumentation -- drums, guitars, voice, Rhodes, a selection of subtle synthesizers, alongside Arnalds' trademark piano as well as Tony Levin on bass. Traditional terminologies become void on his latest offering, which blends contrasting elements into an original, entirely organic new language and a sensitive ballet of the mind. Arnalds' fusion of 21st-century electronics and classical vocabulary thereby continues to decisively unwrap the sealed-off world of classical music. Includes full-color 8-panel insert and MP3 download code.

Artist:	ARNALDS, OLAFUR
Title:	Living Room Songs
Label:	ERASED TAPES (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	ERATP 037CD

Icelandic contemporary composer Ólafur Arnalds created and released a new song, one per day for one whole week during the month of October 2011. The songs were recorded and filmed live in the living room of his Reykjavik apartment and released instantly for free as streamed videos and mp3 downloads. Following in the spirit of his critically acclaimed Found Songs (ERATP 018CD, 2009) where he wrote, recorded and released a free song every day for a week, Living Room Songs takes the idea further. Arnalds invites the audience into the comfort of his living room, where the songs were recorded live with the whole process filmed. In his own words: "One night I was just playing my piano here in this apartment and I was writing a new song and I didn't have my phone on me which I usually use to record ideas. So I actually took out my MacBook and I didn't want to open like a proper recording program, so I just opened Photo Booth and recorded a video of myself playing the song so that I would remember the song. And I really liked the atmosphere of that video and that's when I thought I should do a series of songs in my living room..."

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