Ali Welford discovers an album of quiet excellence from the Danish songwriter
Deutsche Grammophon
Released: 21.02.20
For all the soundtrack features and award wins in her native Denmark, the quiet, consistent excellence of Agnes Obel’s music throughout the 2010s fizzled somewhat beneath the radar. With a little luck, however, 2020 could yet prove a game-changing year, and in Myopia she’s delivered an album more than capable of shouldering the charge.
Assembled in the isolated confines of her Berlin home studio, Obel’s fourth full-length sounds every bit like a record conjured from within a bubble. A product of exquisite minimalism, its intricately crafted compositions lean on sublimely warped and processed vocals, with plucked strings and distant piano comprising the bulk of their backing. Elegant, alluring and often magical, its fruits merit the ears of a wider audience.
