...And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness

EMAIL PRINTby Olafur Arnalds

6.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 9 critic reviews
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Album Info

Label: Erased Tapes

Release Date: 08 June 2010

Discs: 1 disc

Genre(s): Classical, Rock, Pop

Summary

The second full-length album for Icelander Olafur Arnalds continues to meld classical music with pop and rock music.

Also On The Web: Official Artist Site

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Drowned In Sound

It is not just the contemplative which is a joy--the previously mentioned transitions are the true moments which mark ...and they have escaped the weight of darkness's outstanding quality.

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Uncut

The LP plays as a set piece, buut the frosted beauty of "Kjurrt" is a particular highlight. [Jun 2010, p.81]

BBC Music

This set’s effortless poise elevates him to the genre’s upper echelons. While this success is partly due to the suite’s conceptual foundations and strategy, it also benefits from an expanded instrumental palette.

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Delusions of Adequacy

Instead of letting the music fool you, Arnalds is composed in presenting works that are full-bodied and mesmerizing.

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Spin

Arnalds' game is more ambience than transcendence -- so the four very brief detours into Explosions in the Sky–style post-rock seem all the more cinematic.

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All Music Guide

On the few strategic spots in the album where Arnalds drops in drums and/or electric guitar and repetitive motifs, the effect is not dissimilar to the headier moments of the aforementioned Sigúr Ros, or perhaps early-‘70s Pink Floyd at their most ethereal, showing the rock crowd that they too have a point of entry into this music.

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Pitchfork

As Arnalds' boldest and most ambitious take on the form he's pursued so single-mindedly--the robust yet ethereal, mid-tempo tearjerker--...And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness is a success for the composer, and for listeners who don't balk at a little unabashed pageantry.

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musicOMH.com

There are definite hints and sparks of something fascinating here, a potential for something great to eventually emerge. But too often ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness relies on a starkness and simplicity that the unadventurous, sentimental chords are too slight and cliche to support.

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Clash Music

Delicate string arrangements married with subtle synths highlight Arnalds’ trademark piano sound with meticulous studio work revealing the familiar spacious high-skied landscapes of Sigur Ros (with whom he’s toured).

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 6.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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...And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness

Album Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

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