As a surprise release for Erased Tapes founder Robert Raths, label buddies Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm have collaborated for the first time ever. The pair have recorded an EP of ambient electroacoustic works called Stare. The release also features Anne Müller on cello with artwork by label-friend and in-house designer Torsten Posselt.
What started as a jam on old analogue synths at Nils’ Durton studio in Berlin, continued with a 4-day session at Óli´s E7 studio in Reykjavik. Ólafur explains, “the album became kind of an Iceland vs. Berlin thing. I think you can hear it very well in the sound (side a vs. side b) and that is the most interesting thing about this record for me: that subtle but significant different in the characteristics of the music two people made in Iceland against what the same two people made in Germany.” The project was kept secret until, “delivered the fully mastered record with finished artwork to Robert around the 5th anniversary of the label.”
‘a2’ is minimal and glacial. Like the EP artwork, it’s hazy … but precisely so.
There will be limited availability of Stare on Record Store Day 2012, April 21st, which just happens to coincide with the fifth anniversary of Erased Tapes - pre-order here.

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冰岛新的年轻天才，很有涵养的Olafur Arnalds 能把古典元素融合在氛围和微电子节拍里，有Sigur Ros的味道，也有Mum的感觉。
Olafur Arnalds原来在家乡Mosfellsbaer离雷克雅维克偏壤的一个小镇上，他同时身兼多支Hardcore乐队的鼓手职务，先是替友人的乐团My Summer as a Salvation Soldier担任多项乐器伴奏，还获邀为美国Indie-Rock乐团Cursive担任德国巡回演出的伴奏乐手。Olafur Arnalds的个人音乐作品以钢琴和弦乐为主， 与其说是post-rock， 不如干脆说是modern classical。