Icelandic modern classical genius Ólafur Arnalds live in HK, March 26th!

At TPP, we like to hold firm the belief that everyone from Iceland is a pixie, capable of the most sublime magic.  We’ve certainly come across no evidence of the contrary.  Take Ólafur Arnalds for example.  The twenty three year old multi-instrumentalist who crafts achingly beautiful orchestral compositions, conjuring almost weightless pieces unparalleled in both delicacy and scope.  It’s simply implausible that he is not magic… 

Born in the suburban Icelandic town of Mosfellsbær, Arnalds has immersed himself in exploring the crossover from classical to contemporary by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet and appropriate electronics.

While keeping the classical foundations of his groundbreaking 2007 debut album 'Eulogy for Evolution'; on the follow-up EP 'Variations of Static', Arnalds incorporates crackling electronics and the dead voice of a machine.  In April 2009 Arnalds created the 7 song series 'Found Songs' – recording a song a day for 7 days and instantly making each track available via Twitter and his label’s (Erased Tapes) official website, with over 300.000 people downloading for free.  'Found Songs' hasn’t just inspired 2-D work.  Esteban Diácono – a young motion graphic artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina – created an astonishing animation video for 'Ljósið’, which found its way into the heart of UK illusionist Darren Brown among over 500.000 others within 4 weeks via Vimeo and YouTube.

December 2009 saw the release of his contemporary dance score 'Dyad 1909', commissioned by the award-winning choreographer Wayne McGregor.  The dance piece, inspired by Shackleton’s South Pole premiered at the Sadler’s Wells theatre in October 2009 and became an unpredictable and much talked about 5-nights of live music, dance and visuals. This 'fascinating collaboration' (Guardian) included Arnalds as part of an impressive creative line-up.  BBC Four and the ITV1 Southbank show broadcasted 'Dyad 1909' on primetime television.

Ólafur recently finished his highly anticipated second full-length album '…and they have escaped the weight of darkness’ with the help of co-producer Bardi Johannsson (Bang Gang).  The long-player is due for a spring 2010 release, accompanied by an extensive world tour starting here in Hong Kong in late March, before moving on to China, Europe mainland throughout May and UK dates in the autumn.

Live, Arnalds and his accompanying musicians take the audience on a dreamy, almost meditative journey through sound.  He was invited by Sigur Ros to support all their European shows in the summer of 2008.  He has also toured with Aphex Twin and sold out the Barbican Hall in London amidst a slew of major European festivals and has collaborated with the likes of the critically acclaimed 65DaysOfStatic.

Press quotes:

'Gorgeous, on-line chamber-glitch success' **** – Uncut

'Iceland’s best new export… Striking, effective and successful. A terrific experiment'  (8/10) – Clash

'A hypnotic sonic dream, leading in soulful sincerity' (9/10) – Rock Sound

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

'Following on the heels of established Icelandic musicians such as Björk, Sigur Rós, Múm, GusGus and others, Ólafur Arnalds is the latest talent to emerge from this somewhat unlikely North Atlantic sonic hub' – Intelligent Life

‘A series of orchestral movements that pull the heartstrings like a marionette’ (8/10) – Top 12 Album Of the Year – The Silent Ballet

'Mature, modern explorations of life and its unexpected joys, rendering Arnalds increasingly visible'
Best of What's Next – Paste Magazine (US

'A collection of beautiful minimalist tracks. This modern, maybe post-modern, release takes you
back to the pre-digital days, when music was simply beautiful' – Magnet (US

‘If you thought Sigur Ros had the patent on hauntingly beautiful and meticulously compelling music coming out of Iceland, then Arnalds is here to educate you otherwise.’ – UK Music Searc

The Peoples’ Party Presents:
Ólafur Arnalds
March 26th
Backstage Live, 1/F 52-54 Wellington Street, Central
9pm

Tickets: $300 adv $330 door (both incl. 1 drink)
Enquiry: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

*Tickets available from Feb 24th

Useful contacts/links:

ARTIST:
www.myspace.com/olafurarnalds