By: Kevin Scott
Ólöf Arnalds | website | facebook | twitter | soundcloud |
Released on September 29, 2014 via One Little Indian
This fourth album from Icelandic singer/songwriter Ólöf Arnalds continues her captivating collection of dream-like works, hinging on her fragile, almost elfin, vocals. Previous critical success seems to have led to an increased production budget as ‘Palme’ feels more polished than even 2013’s excellent ‘Sudden Elevation’. Stylistically, it also marks a departure from that album.
Strings and keys play a considerable role in the ‘Palme’, however a new direction is evident from the opening track ‘Turtledove’, and is even more pronounced on the haunting title track, the pace of which is held in place by an electronic ambiance that is subtle but unmistakable. The voice is hypnotic, channeling traditional folk – carrying with it a hint of menace in places. Think The Wicker Man’s enchanting singalong and you’re getting there. The melodies are traditional, but not typical. Lead single ‘Patience’, for example, which was co-written by Icelandic composer Skúli Sverrisson, is sharper and more contemporary in feeling – a chorus of aaaahs harmonising their way through the track helping it stand out.
There’s a richness on tracks like the delicate ‘Han Grete’ or the electronic ‘Half Steady’ – one of the album’s highlights – which showcase the progress Arnalds has made as a songwriter. Trouble is, Arnalds’ voice continues to be divisive: at times the falsetto can be cutting – which is no way reflective of her ability as a singer; it is purely a comment on style. The album then is full of eccentricity and interesting instrumentation – from the keys and strings that launch ‘Turtledove’ to the acoustic guitar on the enchanting closer ‘Soft Living’. This isn’t Arnalds best work but it is likely to reach out to a wider audience than before, and that in itself is well-deserved.
