Kiasmos - II

A Closer Listen

This April, Kiasmos (Ólafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen) surprise-dropped a new EP and video, prompting us to write, we only wish it were longer.  And now it is!  The entire Flown EP now exists as tracks 8-10 of II and is joined by eight more slices of sonic bliss.

Ten years have passed since the duo’s debut album, and in the interim they’ve developed a worldwide following while leaning into their signature sound: a perfect balance of electronic and orchestral elements, the latter from SinfoniaNord, a string quartet, and of course, Arnalds on the piano.  To cap the presentation, Kiasmos has also popularized an icon, visible on every single and EP, although nearly invisible on the cover of their debut album.  In the “Flown” video, an artist constructs a copy of the logo in his shoppe; in the newly released “Sailed” video, a hovering icon inspires a group of women to dance in the snow, their souls vibrating from their bodies as they move.  And yes, in case you are wondering, there are Monolith t-shirts!

Summer is the perfect time of year to release such an album, which sings of the outdoors and the invitation to move: in the orchestral segments to sway, and in the electronic passages to dance. “Grown” folds field recordings into the mix, as if the beaches, fields and woods are already calling.  The balance between piano and synth is sublime, laying the groundwork for a subtle entrance of strings.  This formula continues throughout the album: never jarring, never forced.  Seldom have these elements been so well integrated in a single set: a seamless meld of intellect and emotion.

While DJs may add beats over the breakdowns, whenever the beats retreat ~ for example, in the midsection of “Laced” ~ the results are surprisingly tender.  This makes the album equally suited for home listening, for driving, and for the club.  Thanks to a narrow range of tempos and wise sequencing, the album also flows beautifully as a whole; with only minor adjustments, one can imagine a continuous mix.  We also have high hopes for another installment of Late Night Tales; Arnalds’ last contribution integrated a Kiasmos track and the dynamic contrast of tracks such as “Bound” lend themselves perfectly to such ventures.  (“Bound” begins with beats, but ends with nearly two minutes of sublime strings, a mixer’s dream!)  Every track is a viable single.

By capturing the vibe of summer, Kiasmos has produced an LP that is perfect for its time and can be played in virtually any place: a success story a decade in the making.  (Richard Allen)

The Guardian 0

(Erased Tapes)
The Icelandic-Faroese duo follow their 2014 cult debut with a second album of meticulous, majestic, simply beautiful electronic music