Ólafur Arnalds – Dyad 1909 (2009) (AWESOME !!!)

Genre : Modern Classical, Ambient, Experimental, Iceland
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Tracklist (correct your tracklist) :

01 Frá Upphafi
02 Lokaðu Augunum
03 Brotsjór
04 Við Vorum Smá…
05 3326
06 Til Enda
07 …Og Lengra

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. His motivations are clear: “The classical scene is kind of closed to people who haven’t been studying music all their lives. I would like to bring my classical influence to the people who don’t usually listen to this kind of music…open people’s minds.”

Ólafur Arnalds' latest musical adventure - the score for a contemporary ballet called 'Dyad 1909' - is to be released on December 7th, 2009. The soundtrack features seven songs, some of which, reveals Arnalds, are "quite different from what you are used to hearing from me". The piece was premiered at Sadler's Wells in London last month where the composer played 5 sold-out shows in a row. Dyad 1909 choreographer Wayne McGregor describes the sound track as "...an amazing piece of music –it's melancholic and spatial then cuts to extreme rhythmic violence -it's hauntingly inspiring".

'The sound of cracking ice and freezing winds in Olafur Arnalds’s evocative and lyrical score' **** - The Times

'The work is a fascinating collaboration' (4/5) - The Guardian

'Composer Ólafur Arnalds provides an emotional score to this astonishing piece, mixing classical symphonies with avant-garde electronic recordings' - Dazed & Confused

'String quartet, piano and electronics of perfect dis-locational atmosphere' - The Arts Desk

'My composer for Dyad, Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds, is coming in next week to finish work on the score. 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)