Olafur Arnalds returns with his most ambitious project to date. For Island Songs the Icelandic composer/musician aimed to write seven songs, in seven weeks, at seven different locations around Iceland. The whole process was documented by filmmaker Baldvin Z to add a visual element to this very special project. From Olafur himself, "I always want to make everything sound perfect, but I also know that perfection doesn’t necessarily make for good music. So these projects grew out of an internal fight with myself, a need to create something spontaneous and improvised." Includes the stunning "Dalur" with Brasstrio Mosfellsdals, "Particles" with Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir, "Doria" and more. A beautiful listen through and through.

• printed insert
• digital download included
• music label: Mercury Classics 2016

reviewed by The Groke 11/2016