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Árnason: Eilífur
PENTATONE

Árnason: Eilífur

$19.99

Details

Composer
ARNASON, VIKTOR ORRI
Artist
Various
Format
CD
Label
PENTATONE
Released
Jun 18, 2021
Catalog #
PTC5186950
UPC
827949095061

About

Eilífur (Eternal) is Icelandic contemporary composer Viktor Orri Árnason’s solo debut and first PENTATONE album, on which the prospect of living forever is contemplated. Sparked by the realisation that medical advances will soon eradicate death by natural causes, Eilífur weaves together a lucid, near-future narrative via a combination of abstract Icelandic lyrics and adept musical storytelling. The scope and scale of Eilífur is reflected in the extremes of its sound, which moves seamlessly from intimate strings and sombre voices to grand orchestral gestures and vast drones. Eilífur explores what life will be like in the absence of death’s ticking clock. Staying clear of the morbidity that such themes may imply, Eilífur is above all a celebration of life as we know it, and an ode to the things that make it worth living. Viktor composed, produced and mixed the album at his Berlin studio over the course of two years. The studio was a hub of experimentation with a community of outstanding award-winning composers and musicians, including Jóhann Jóhannsson, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Dustin O'Halloran, Rutger Hoedemaekers, Gunnar Örn Tynes and Yair Elazar Glotman. Eilífur is a statement, a first glimpse of Viktor’s outstanding abilities as a composer, conductor, instrumentalist, producer and mixing engineer; an ambitious album which puts him in the spotlight after many years working behind the scenes.

REVIEW:

Viktor Orri Arnason has collaborated with other composers as a performer, producer, and arranger, notably with Hildur Gudnodottir on her 2019 Oscar-winning score to Joker. "Eilifur" is his first release as a composer. The music recalls his work with Gudnodottir (who is also credited as a producer here): atmospheric but with a cinematic immediacy. Though electronic sounds are rare, the production process is integral to the work itself. Edges are smoothed over and reverberation is amplified. The music itself is soothing and tender yet melancholy. Drones in the low strings give it an earthy expansiveness, from which melodies in the bass and contrabass clarinet bloom and grow. This will have its audience, though the production may be too distracting for many of our readers. I certainly enjoyed it. The notes are rather overbearing: "The album poses questions about the changing significance of time itself and the role that our eventual demise plays in the meaning we assign to our lifetimes." Though thought-provoking, this is superfluous—the music, like much that is composed today, speaks for itself more substantially than the unwieldy thesis statement that precedes it.

-- American Record Guide

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 Var 10:48
    Track
    1
    Title
    Var
    Duration
    10:48
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Benedikt Kristjánsson, Yair Elazar Glotman, Grímur Helgason, Emil Friðfinnsson, Stefán Jón Bernharðsson, Jósef Ognibene, Sigurður Þorbergsson, Carlos Caro Aguilera, Viktor Orri Árnason
    Ensemble
    Fóstbræður Male Choir
    Conductor
    Árni Harðarson
  2. 2 The Thread 04:22
    Track
    2
    Title
    The Thread
    Duration
    04:22
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Aron Steinn Ásbjarnarson, Bjarmi Hreinsson, Guðmundur Vignir Karlsson, Hafsteinn Þórólfsson, Örn Arnarson, Örn Ýmir Arason, Yair Elazar Glotman, Viktor Orri Árnason
    Conductor
    Viktor Orri Árnason
  3. 3 Maiden 05:45
    Track
    3
    Title
    Maiden
    Duration
    05:45
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Aron Steinn Ásbjarnarson, Bjarmi Hreinsson, Guðmundur Vignir Karlsson, Hafsteinn Þórólfsson, Örn Arnarson, Örn Ýmir Arason, Viktor Orri Árnason
    Ensemble
    Budapest Art Orchestra
    Conductor
    Viktor Orri Árnason
  4. 4 Er 03:48
    Track
    4
    Title
    Er
    Duration
    03:48
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Benedikt Kristjánsson, Aron Steinn Ásbjarnarson, Bjarmi Hreinsson, Guðmundur Vignir Karlsson, Hafsteinn Þórólfsson, Örn Arnarson, Örn Ýmir Arason, Grímur Helgason, Emil Friðfinnsson, Stefán Jón Bernharðsson, Jósef Ognibene, Sigurður Þorbergsson, Carlos Caro Aguilera, Viktor Orri Árnason
    Ensemble
    Fóstbræður Male Choir
    Conductor
    Árni Harðarson
  5. 5 The Faultline 04:14
    Track
    5
    Title
    The Faultline
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Aron Steinn Ásbjarnarson, Bjarmi Hreinsson, Guðmundur Vignir Karlsson, Hafsteinn Þórólfsson, Örn Arnarson, Örn Ýmir Arason, Viktor Orri Árnason
    Ensemble
    Budapest Art Orchestra
    Conductor
    Viktor Orri Árnason
  6. 6 The Vision 03:37
    Track
    6
    Title
    The Vision
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Stefan Baumann
  7. 7 Nectar 04:00
    Track
    7
    Title
    Nectar
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Ensemble
    Budapest Art Orchestra
    Conductor
    Viktor Orri Árnason
  8. 8 Anima Mundi 02:53
    Track
    8
    Title
    Anima Mundi
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Benedikt Smári Skúlason, Viktor Orri Árnason
    Ensemble
    Budapest Art Orchestra
    Conductor
    Viktor Orri Árnason
  9. 9 Var - Er 04:07
    Track
    9
    Title
    Var - Er
    Duration
    04:07
    Composer
    Viktor Orri Árnason
    Performer
    Benedikt Kristjánsson, Grímur Helgason, Emil Friðfinnsson, Stefán Jón Bernharðsson, Jósef Ognibene, Sigurður Þorbergsson, Carlos Caro Aguilera, Viktor Orri Árnason
    Ensemble
    Fóstbræður Male Choir
    Conductor
    Árni Harðarson