LateNightTales

Liner Note Author: Bill Brewster.
Photographer: Heiko Prigge.
Olafur Arnalds' installment of the LateNightTales mix series is typically eclectic and unpredictable, functioning as a dreamlike collage geared for after-hours listening rather than the average mix CD intended to replicate a club DJ's set. As with most artists who are approached to create a volume of the series, neo-classical composer Arnalds is from far outside the world of DJ culture, so his mix has a much different sense of pacing than one by a typical DJ. It starts out with a very grainy recording of an Icelandic folk tune before shifting into the weightless, ethereal vocals of Julianna Barwick. It doesn't take too long before the mix turns to beat-driven material, and the tracks are generally midtempo and combine electronic and acoustic elements along with delicate melodies. Jamie xx's remix of Four Tet's "Lion" stands out with its combination of sparse pianos, heavy U.K. garage beats, and miles of open space. Halfway through, the mix takes a turn for the sad and weepy, with a track from James Blake's second album followed by lo-fi alt-R&B Internet sensation Spooky Black. Arnalds and collaborator Arnór Dan contribute a string and piano cover of Destiny's Child's inescapable hit "Say My Name." The next few selections step away from vocals, and they include previously unreleased pieces from Kiasmos (Arnalds' techno duo with Bloodgroup's Janus Rasmussen) and Arnalds himself. As with most of the LateNightTales compilations, this one ends with a spoken word story, ending with the proclamation "You've been listening to LateNightTales, music and stories worth staying up for." ~ Paul Simpson