Staying true to this positive note, ...And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness will herald another intense year for Ólafur Arnalds, with the album being accompanied by a world tour, starting in China in March 2010. Born in the suburban Icelandic town of Mosfellsbær, a few kilometres outside of Reykjavík, the 23-year old composer has always enjoyed pushing boundaries with both his studio work and his live-shows. His new opus is set to again challenge his fan base, which is still growing rapidly. In many ways, this record is clearly inspired and informed by these events. Several of the pieces were, in fact, written on and off throughout his tour and benefit directly from the intensity of the live situation and the emotional roller-coaster-ride of life on the road: ”The first half of Gleypa okkur was written in a sound check in Munich, for example”, Arnalds relates, “while the second part was scored in Braunschweig, Germany.” On the other hand it is the result of meticulous studio work, of refining compositions in close co-operation with compatriot Barði Johannsson, known for his eccentric personality and unique electro-acoustic sound: I definitely wanted to do something a bit different this time, something more. Working with a producer was a part of that.