In the two years since her debut, Arnalds has won fans and accolades in her native Iceland and the US, where patronage from Bj?rk has ensured attention. The praise isn’t misplaced — produced by Sigur R?s’s Kjartan Sveinsson, Við og Við is undeniably beautiful. But while Arnalds’s spare, yearning melodies and naive vocals breeze through the record, it lacks momentum. Every gorgeous opening promises a song that will soar, but most never quite get off the ground.
(One Little Indian)