Name: II
Brand: Kiasmos

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

ERATP168LO

Colour

Orange

Colour details

Transparent Orange

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: Yes

Extended format

Extended format: Yes

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2024-07-05

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Forte

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

3700551785759

Total Cap

Orange LPx2 | Rough Trade Exclusive

ERATP168LP

Black

Biovinyl

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format: No

3700551785704

9999

Black LPx2

ERATP168LE

Clear

3700551785711

Clear LPx2

ERATP168CD

3700551785698

Artist

Kiasmos

Genre GB

Modern Composition

Label GB

Erased Tapes

Erased Tapes Records is a London-based record label established in 2007 by Robert Raths, also known as Ghostworker. With the label code LC 15952, Erased Tapes has become renowned for its diverse roster of *artists* and *performers*. The label's focus lies on releasing avant-garde and experimental music across various genres, including ambient, electronic, and modern classical. Erased Tapes has gained a reputation for nurturing talented musicians and pushing boundaries within the industry. Their commitment to quality and innovation has made them a trusted source for unique and captivating musical experiences.
At Erased Tapes, they believe that music should be an immersive journey that transcends traditional boundaries. They strive to create an environment where artists can freely express their creativity while receiving support from a dedicated team of professionals. By fostering close relationships with their *artists*, Erased Tapes ensures that each release is treated with care and attention to detail.
Over the years, Erased Tapes has built an impressive catalog of critically acclaimed albums that have resonated with listeners worldwide. From the ethereal compositions of Nils Frahm to the mesmerizing soundscapes of A Winged Victory For The Sullen, each release showcases the label's commitment to showcasing groundbreaking talent.

Kiasmos is a Faroese-Icelandic minimal, experimental techno duo, composed of Ólafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen. Their unique blend of electronic music has captivated audiences worldwide.
With influences ranging from *Rival Consoles* to *Nils Frahm*, Kiasmos creates immersive soundscapes that push the boundaries of traditional techno. Their music combines intricate melodies with pulsating beats, resulting in a hypnotic and mesmerizing experience for listeners.
Known for their dynamic live performances, Kiasmos has gained a reputation as one of the most exciting acts in the electronic music scene. Whether performing at renowned festivals or intimate venues, their energy on stage is infectious and leaves fans craving more.

Vinyl variants, bonus material and signed editions exclusively available from Rough Trade.

Newest Listed Items

Kiasmos – Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds and Faroese musician Janus Rasmussen – are returning, renewed and restored, with II. The triumphant follow-up to their universally acclaimed self-titled debut in 2014, which re-envisioned minimal techno with orchestral flourishes and weightless production. They’d made most of that album in just two weeks; this time it’s been 10 years. The making of II was a test of their friendship, but also testament to how great musical chemistry can always go the distance and be just the same as it ever was.

They worked on a lot of II during the lost year of 2020-2021, including a trip to Ólafur’s studio in Bali. “We spent a month there and wrote a few songs that ended up on the record,” says Janus. The pair sampled traditional Balinese percussion like the gamelan and incorporated Janus’s field recordings of their natural surroundings – the sound of birds, crickets and, on standout track ‘Dazed’, echoing the sunrise over the lush landscape.

     Kiasmos have an enviable knack for conveying complex emotions and evocative visuals with instrumental music. But this time they’ve got more experience as producers to draw on. The album’s expansiveness can be linked to Ólafur’s intervening years as a Grammy-nominated composer and prominent soundtracker in film and TV. And they’ve subtly shifted from four-to-the-floor to the frenetic broken beats of UK dance music, experimenting more with BPMs, echoing Janus’s time spent DJing in major venues worldwide. There are still those aching melodies that fans know and love but they’re catchier too: tracks like ‘Laced’ and ‘Bound’ have an irresistible, elastic bounce beneath the ethereal palette.     

“We just want to make electronic music that there isn’t so much of right now,” says Janus, “to take you on a great journey that is a little bit unconventional.” “You have to develop into a new space,” Ólafur adds. But they had to impose limits, too, to keep them both on track and make something memorable. Often Ólafur would refuse to move on to the next idea until they’d perfected a chord progression or beat, to help them stay focused and forge, he says, a “deep understanding of what the song is.” 

“II is livelier,” says Janus, “but it still retains the signature Kiasmos style of transitioning from a whisper-quiet ambience to an explosive dance beat that can blow your socks off.”

Music GB

Discover II by Kiasmos on Erased Tapes. A triumphant return with intricate melodies and experimental beats. Vinyl records available.