Product Review

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.