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In 2009, Icelandic multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds released Found Songs, a collection formed by the writing and recording of one song per day for a week. The songs were released digitally, for free, ahead of compilation on the album proper. Two years’ later, Living Room Songs repeats this creative process: each of these seven pieces was available for free from his website, where videos of their recording can still be viewed. As the title conveys, these tracks were performed and recorded in the living room of his Reykjavik apartment.
As befits material captured in close quarters, the atmosphere of Living Room songs is suitably intimate and warmly affecting – strings slow-dance around the central piano motifs of Near Light, the sole offering here that adds glitches of electronica to proceedings; the elegiac Ágúst sighs its magnificence like the greatest closing credits arrangement to have never accompanied the post-climax comedown of a tear-spilling cinema hit. As the record progresses, the pieces become fuller. Lag fyrir Ömmu turns from a solo Arnalds affair – just him, hunched at the piano, lost in the moment – into something texturally triumphant as cellos and an armada of violins come into play. The video gently pans right from the pianist to reveal the presence of the assembled horde, as if it’s no big deal whatsoever to have half an orchestra over for tea and biscuits.
Those familiar with Arnalds’ previous work – his second LP proper of 2010, …and They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness, was a real calling card moment for the man, a collection which raised him to a position amongst today’s premier contemporary neo-classical composers/soundtrackers (see also: Max Richter, Yann Tiersen, Nils Frahm) – will come to Living Room Songs with an idea of what to expect. And it certainly meets every expectation, albeit without stretching far beyond anticipated designs. Given the speed of this set’s genesis, though, a relative lack of adventurousness compared to its maker’s grander statements can be overlooked in favour of its simple beauty. Even at his most reserved, Arnalds is an artist who can exert immense power with the lightest of touches.
--Mike Diver
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CD Description
Following in the spirit of Ólafur Arnalds critically acclaimed Found Songs (2009) where he wrote, recorded and released a free song every day for a week - now comes Living Room Songs. This time Ólafur takes the idea further and invites the audience into the comfort of his living room, where the songs were recorded live and the whole process filmed. The songs were instantly released in form of a free mp3 download and video stream- straight from Ólafur's Reykjavik apartment. 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... Ólafur Arnalds
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Olafur Arnalds is an Icelandic composer/instrumentalist. His new album
'Living Room Songs' is an intimate affair befitting the context in which
he recorded these seven compositions. It is indeed a home made affair.
Mr Arnald's muse bears close kinship with that of Goldmund (aka Keith
Kennif), in particular his haunting 2008 album 'The Malady Of Elegance'.
Mr Arnald is clearly a gentle soul whose compositions, though beguilingly
simple, are full of restrained beauty and pathos. The piano sits at the
heart of the majority of the pieces in the set but his touching, almost
folksy, melodies are embroidered with warm string embellishments and the
addition, on one track, 'Near Light', of a subtle electronic rhythmic pattern.
Like the words of a carol from the season just passed "All Is Calm, All Is
Bright", this lovely music belongs to the long shadows of a summer evening
or a rolling snow-covered landscape at first light. Occasional incidental
sounds, like that of a creaking chair on 'Tomorrow's Song', are left in place,
which contributes an ineffable human presence to the piece's elusive magic.
Elsewhere, opening track 'Fyrsta' weaves a melancholic threnody from the
softly ambling piano osinato and luminous strings; the Janacek-like theme
of 'Agust' would not have sounded out of place had it been a part of his
delightful 1900-1912 thirteen-piece cycle for piano 'On An Overgrown Path'
and at just over two minutes long the final track 'This Place Is A Shelter'
generates a palpable sense of calm and tranquility. A tiny song for the moon.
A little serenity is good for the spirit. Mr Arnalds' heart is clearly in the right place.
Highly Recommended.
'Living Room Songs' is an intimate affair befitting the context in which
he recorded these seven compositions. It is indeed a home made affair.
Mr Arnald's muse bears close kinship with that of Goldmund (aka Keith
Kennif), in particular his haunting 2008 album 'The Malady Of Elegance'.
Mr Arnald is clearly a gentle soul whose compositions, though beguilingly
simple, are full of restrained beauty and pathos. The piano sits at the
heart of the majority of the pieces in the set but his touching, almost
folksy, melodies are embroidered with warm string embellishments and the
addition, on one track, 'Near Light', of a subtle electronic rhythmic pattern.
Like the words of a carol from the season just passed "All Is Calm, All Is
Bright", this lovely music belongs to the long shadows of a summer evening
or a rolling snow-covered landscape at first light. Occasional incidental
sounds, like that of a creaking chair on 'Tomorrow's Song', are left in place,
which contributes an ineffable human presence to the piece's elusive magic.
Elsewhere, opening track 'Fyrsta' weaves a melancholic threnody from the
softly ambling piano osinato and luminous strings; the Janacek-like theme
of 'Agust' would not have sounded out of place had it been a part of his
delightful 1900-1912 thirteen-piece cycle for piano 'On An Overgrown Path'
and at just over two minutes long the final track 'This Place Is A Shelter'
generates a palpable sense of calm and tranquility. A tiny song for the moon.
A little serenity is good for the spirit. Mr Arnalds' heart is clearly in the right place.
Highly Recommended.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The music on this short CD will appeal to those who like Arvo Part's "Alina" or the Hilliard Ensemble. It's gentle, slow piano and strings music, undemanding and soothing. I bought it for my wife who loves this sort of music and it's getting played regularly. It's not for those, like me, who want to be challenged by music but of its kind it's excellent.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Ólafur Arnalds Delivers Again
23 Mar 2012
Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ólafur Arnalds is easily the best artist to come out of Iceland. Melding classical composition with electronic elements, Arnalds' music is entirely ethereal. The fabulous thing about this release is that each song was written and recorded in a day (following the success of 'Found Songs'). Arnalds' piano and accompanying woodwinds are amazing to say the least. A must-have for fans of post-rock. If you're a fan of God Is An Astronaut, Jóhann Jóhannsson or Hildur Guðnadóttir pick this up.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Pure Genius...
23 Feb 2012
Format:Audio CD
Olafur Arnalds is a musical genius! I just recently discovered him and purchased ALL of his CD's. I anxiously await each new project. The soundtrack to "Another Happy Day" is due to come out shortly!!!! Buy it! It won't disappoint you... The film was a "Sundance" winner... I hope he is feverishly working, working, working, so that we may continue to be blessed with his pure musical genius talent.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Olafur Arnalds New Album 2011
28 Dec 2011
Format:Audio CD
So like all other albums by Olafur Arnalds this one is AMAZING!!! It really is a must buy. If you are a fan of Olafur Arnalds, you won't be disappointing. It's very nicely put together and it's one of my favorites.
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