Hildur Guðnadóttir: Where to From (Crystal Clear Vinyl) (180 g) (LP)

A declaration of love to the creative power of friendship and artistic collaboration, Where to From is Hildur Guðnadóttir's first studio album for Deutsche Grammophon. It contains nine intimate, reflective pieces - written, arranged and produced by the award-winning Icelandic composer, whose film scores have won two Grammy Awards® (Chernobyl, Joker) and an Oscar (Joker). Guðnadóttir, who plays cello and sings on several tracks, is accompanied on Where to From by close friends and longtime collaborators: Liam Byrne (viola da gamba), Clare O'Connell (cello), Eyvind Kang (viola) and Jessika Kenney and Elsa Torp (vocals). Two other friends were significantly involved in the album production: Francesco Donadello took care of the recording, mixing and mastering. The expressive cover was designed by the artist, choreographer and director Gisèle Vienne. The booklet contains an interview between Guðnadóttir and the film director Todd Field (TÁR) as well as further atmospheric images by Vienne. This personal yet universal collection of works is based on spontaneous musical thoughts that Hildur Guðnadóttir originally recorded on her smartphone. "The album title Where to From seems to give a direction," she says. "Every creative project starts with an idea that comes out of nowhere and then takes its own path."