Ólafur Arnalds, half of Icelandic duo Kiasmos and frequent collaborator of Nils Frahm, has revealed an affecting neoclassical piece on this Christmas Eve. The classically trained pianist turned electronic minimalist shared a re-recording of “Ljósið,” a track originally released on the 2009 mini-album, Found Songs.
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Arnalds and his label Erased Tapes declared the song a “festive treat” in the press release, and indeed, its poignant piano melodies and violin counterpoint evoke the more tender moments of the holidays. "Ljósið", which is Icelandic for 'light', is not a Christmas track per se, but given the context of the season, it’s difficult not to feel the spirit in the thoughtful duet of Arnalds and his violinist Viktor Orri Árnason. Happy holidays everyone.
