Artist: Ólafur Arnalds and Rival Consoles
Source: Paul Murphy
Described as “Iceland’s best new export”, Ólafur Arnalds has shortened the waiting period for his forthcoming album with the release of 65/Milo a split 12”/Download release with label collegue Rival Consoles.
Teaming up with Bloodgroup mastermind Janus Rasmussen, Ólafur has created a new project, Kiasmos, based around the duo’s common love for minimal, experimental techno music. With both having their own touring commitments the music composition usually begins by email.
The result is minimalist techno soundscapes that still include the post-rock sensabilities and emotive song composition abilities that Ólafur is known for. His dance music maintains the ability to open minds and his classical influences are certainly evident as the techno compositions 65 and Walled which appear on this release move through similar stages to that of a classical score, with the building and layering of textures behind a warm and catchy melody which gives life to the music.
IDM-smith, Ryan Lee West aka Rival Consoles from Leicester joins the Icelandic on the Erased Tapes Records’ split. Having recently released Helvetica, an epic and almost conceptual abandonment and experimentation with classical being played against dance.
These guys seem well matched Ólafur’s solo music would have provided for a great split with music from West’s Helvetica but this time around West is in full-on techno mode. With three tracks of the five on the split it’s hard to tell prior to knowing this where the Icelandic ends and the Leicester man begins as both have a flare for experimentation as their beats and their melodic and rhythmic synths flow seemlessly together.
Drop-d Rating 8/10
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment