Prince Valium is the alter-ego of Þorsteinn Ólafsson, a 30 years old Icelander. A former member of various bands, Þorsteinn soon put his mind to his solo creations, mainly ambient electronic music. In 2003 he teamed up with Skurken, a fellow Icelander and together they made the album "Í Þágu fallsins" under the name Sk/um, released on Resonant records. Andlaus is a collection of Prince Valium´s most recent creations. Using only a guitar and his computer, the Prince made the album in his bedroom over a relative short period of time.
PRINCE VALIUM 'Andlaus' (Resonant) 2006 Press Release :
A debut of sorts on Resonant, from yet another Icelandic artist; Prince Valium put the 'um' in Sk/um, the duo responsible for the fine IDM electronica mini-album "I Thagu Fallsins" in early 2003 (RESCD004), alongside Skurken (the 'sk' half).
Working both as a partnership and as individuals since then, "Andlaus" (meaning 'without breath') is the first material from the Sk/um members to see the light of day, so to speak, since the Sk/um release. This sees Valium - 30 year old Thorsteinn Olafsson - take a step back from the Plaid-style playful electronics of old, instead leaning notably towards epic soundscapes utilising both real instruments (guitar being predominant here) and his computer, to create what is ultimately an ambient album in essence.
Mostly instrumental - the exception being the breathtaking female vocal-led second track "Crying Hearts " - "Andlaus" is stunning, evocative and overwhelming, with widescreen production that belies its bedroom origins.
SK/UM 'Í Þágu Fallsins' (Resonant) 2003 Press Release :
The debut release from Reyjkavik-based producers Sk/um, aka Skurken and Prince Valium, aka Johann Omarsson and Thorstein Olafsson. Should you care, both Sk/um and Borko came to Resonant as a result of our contact with fellow Icelanders Mum, and though the origins are very apparent when you hear the records, each has it's own identity within the parameters of the warm, welcoming sound for which their homeland has become renowned in recent times. Whereas the Borko ep possessed the 'musical box' fragility of what could've been the soundtrack to an animated fairytale, Sk/um takes things on a step with more of a leftfield dancefloor appeal, verging on Morr Music territory.
Available on ultra-ltd 8-track LP and 9-track CD (CD includes an exclusive remix by Arnar Helgi of the opening track "Tomatar") and clocking in at 30 minutes-plus, "í þágu fallsins'" (loosely translated as "For The Fall") expands on the established template for the genre and remains endearing and accessible throughout, without ever becoming generic or mundane.
PRINCE VALIUM 'Andlaus' (Resonant) 2006 Press Release :
A debut of sorts on Resonant, from yet another Icelandic artist; Prince Valium put the 'um' in Sk/um, the duo responsible for the fine IDM electronica mini-album "I Thagu Fallsins" in early 2003 (RESCD004), alongside Skurken (the 'sk' half).
Working both as a partnership and as individuals since then, "Andlaus" (meaning 'without breath') is the first material from the Sk/um members to see the light of day, so to speak, since the Sk/um release. This sees Valium - 30 year old Thorsteinn Olafsson - take a step back from the Plaid-style playful electronics of old, instead leaning notably towards epic soundscapes utilising both real instruments (guitar being predominant here) and his computer, to create what is ultimately an ambient album in essence.
Mostly instrumental - the exception being the breathtaking female vocal-led second track "Crying Hearts " - "Andlaus" is stunning, evocative and overwhelming, with widescreen production that belies its bedroom origins.
SK/UM 'Í Þágu Fallsins' (Resonant) 2003 Press Release :
The debut release from Reyjkavik-based producers Sk/um, aka Skurken and Prince Valium, aka Johann Omarsson and Thorstein Olafsson. Should you care, both Sk/um and Borko came to Resonant as a result of our contact with fellow Icelanders Mum, and though the origins are very apparent when you hear the records, each has it's own identity within the parameters of the warm, welcoming sound for which their homeland has become renowned in recent times. Whereas the Borko ep possessed the 'musical box' fragility of what could've been the soundtrack to an animated fairytale, Sk/um takes things on a step with more of a leftfield dancefloor appeal, verging on Morr Music territory.
Available on ultra-ltd 8-track LP and 9-track CD (CD includes an exclusive remix by Arnar Helgi of the opening track "Tomatar") and clocking in at 30 minutes-plus, "í þágu fallsins'" (loosely translated as "For The Fall") expands on the established template for the genre and remains endearing and accessible throughout, without ever becoming generic or mundane.
Electronic Ambient