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.