aaamusic | On 31, Aug 2010

Ólöf Arnald’s hotly anticipated new album Innundir skinni is released through One Little Indian on the 13^th September 2010. It is preceeded by a single Crazy Car on the 6^th September. 

The new album marks a departure by including three English sung songs, including single to be Surrender which also features Bjork’s distinctive vocal. Arnald’s lilting voice makes her songs come alive, leaving the impression of a classic troubadour with associations to early freak-folkers like Vashti Bunyan and Judee Sill.

Of the new album Ólöf has this to say: ‘With my first record I was more surprised with myself writing songs and felt very shy about the process. The songs all came in a period of a few months and I was all at once, writing, playing them to my friends, recording them and starting to perform them. My aim with Innundir skinni was for it to be a musical development from the first album, yet random and close to my sub-conscious like Við og við. Of course that aim was challenged by how the album ended up being created in short interludes with many collaborators over a considerable amount of time. But I´m happy with the outcome. The album as a whole ended up being in charge of me rather than me being in charge of it, so the process and the album became what I wanted it to be. I owe that to my collaborators who all showed an enormous amount of patience in playing again and again to get the feel right, allowing me to throw things away, change things, etc. And of course to myself as well for daring to have the last word on what I wanted and putting the emphasis on emotional essence rather than construction of elements.’

Ólöf – accompanied by musical foil, Davíð Þór Jónsson – finally made her (sold out) UK live debut at Café Oto in April, seducing a crowd that arrived curious but left bedazzled by a magical two-hour show that oscillated between playful spontaneity and stark heart-breaking beauty, showcasing Ólöf’s extraordinary, enchanting voice and engaging stage presence. (Eccentrically, the pair provided the musical interlude to the show’s interval, playing covers). Ólöf returns to the UK for September shows as follows:

12 Dorset End Of The Road Festival

14 London Bush Hall

15 Bristol Louisiana

16 Manchester Dulcimer

18 Glasgow Captains Rest

20 Bruxells Belgium Botanique

21 Berlin Germany Privatclub

23 Hamburg Reeperbahn Festival

24 Dublin Fringe Festival

26 Paris St Eustache

Already on the receiving end of a considerable NYC buzz, Ólöf has performed a number of shows in the city alongside Bjork, Dirty Projectors, Blonde Redhead and John Vanderslice, also appearing at showcases for Brooklyn Vegan and ‘Celebrate Brooklyn!’ In May she opened shows in NY and LA for Ane Brun and opens a San Francisco residency in July for, and at the personal invitation of, Jonathan Richman.

Produced by Sigur Ros’ Kjartan Sveinsson and Davíð Þór Jónsson, the follow up to 2007’s Við og Við debut, Innundir skinni features contributions from Bjork, Skúli Sverrisson (Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed), Shahzad Ismaily (Tom Waits, Plastic Ono Band, Bonnie “Prince” Billy), María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (Amiina) and Ragnar Kjartansson.