Forget what you know about Ólöf Arnalds, as her fourth album ‘Palme’ is something new.
Just a year after ‘Sudden Elevation’, the Icelandic singer has peppered her delicate fairy tale folk with electro elements – the influence of múm founder, Gunnar Örn Tynes. ‘Hypnose’ is buzzy while ‘Patience’ (video below), written by composer Skúli Sverrisson, could be the single that finally breaks this Icelandic talent into wider audiences: big, layered vocals partner with a melody that’s determined and enigmatic.
‘Half-Steady’ mixes bouncing electro and industrial percussion with robotic harmonies. ‘Defining Gender’ pushes further with swirling strings over a bossa nova, like a dramatic film score. For someone so particular about her sound, so much collaborating must have been terrifying – but the result is utterly stunning.
7/10
Words: Gemma Hampson
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Listen to ‘Palme’ in full via Deezer, below…
