Ólöf Arnalds’ Sudden Elevation
Following two critically acclaimed albums, Iceland’s Ólöf Arnalds just released her new album, Sudden Elevation via One Little Indian Records.
Comprised of twelve self-penned tracks sung in English, the album finds Ólöf offering a more stripped-back sound than in previous releases. Arnalds sings softly but carries a big stick. On this album, she’s accompanied by acoustic guitar, charango, and subtle but luminous coloring from the koto harp, keyboards and electric guitar ~ all played by Ólöf herself. Sudden Elevation is now available via iTunes and other digital retailers.
To celebrate the release, Ólöf has shared album track “Return Again,” a melancholic tune featuring the singer’s striking and highly poignant vocals floating above beautifully-arranged instrumentation that sets a tone of longing. Take a listen to the sadly gorgeous tune HERE.
Even the story behind the record has its magical elements. Produced by Skúli Sverrisson, Sudden Elevation was largely recorded in a two-week, partially snowed-in autumn 2011 stint in a seaside cabin in Hvalfjörður, in the west of Iceland. The album was then overdubbed and mixed both at Ólöf’s house in Reykjavík and at Sigur Rós’s Sundlaugin (Swimming Pool) studio at Álafoss. The record contains cameos by Ólöf’s two sisters: Klara Arnalds duets sunnily on “Bright and Still” and “Numbers and Names,” while Dagný Arnalds performs the devastating piano part in “Return Again.”
With such copious amounts of talent, it’s no wonder Ólöf has performed alongside such artists as Dirty Projectors, Blonde Redhead, John Vanderslice and Björk.