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Ambient: Futuregrapher - Effects of Clouds (2019)

80 / 100
A serene, bittersweet ambient journey that blends synths, strings, into a magical haze, Effects of Clouds stands as a graceful farewell to Árni Grétar. It’s a deeply atmospheric tribute—accessible, moving, and quietly enchanting.
This is the morphine cloud left behind by the late Árni Grétar. He was the figure behind the electronic unit Futuregrapher, who sadly passed away on January 3, 2025—just a few days after a tragic accident at the end of 2024 at Reykjavik Harbour, Iceland. I had previously listened to the album Ýsa Í Raspi, and Neotantra paid tribute to him through the Seven Stages of Grief compilations. But at the time, I merely mumbled, “Árni Grétar? Who’s that?” There’s also a compilation by his label, Möller Records.
Árni Grétar
It’s crazy—and honestly a little sad—that I only really noticed him through this album. I wanted to mourn, but it feels too late... That’s how it often is: people are only truly remembered or appreciated after they’re gone.

Effects of Clouds leans more toward ambient, blending synthesizers and strings to evoke an aesthetic and magical atmosphere. That magical aura is concentrated especially in “Stars Come Down,” “Level Out,” “Sacred Medicines,” and “Triggered.” There are also field recordings, like the sound of rain in “Thought to Have Been Lost” and the 25-minute closer “Effects of Clouds (Part 2),” which ends with an IDM-style bass performance. Interestingly, this outro flows smoothly into the album Moog Meditation, so whether intentional or not, Árni Grétar clearly demonstrated his skill in crafting seamless sonic experiences.

Unfortunately, the role of Eric “the” Taylor remains unclear, though he likely contributed to the composition, being an electronic artist himself. Besides the rain, children’s voices appear in “Sacred Medicines,” while the most minimal track, “Durand,” offers a gentler contrast.

In the end, Effects of Clouds feels more accessible to my ears than Ýsa Í Raspi, which focused more on IDM and electronic styles.

Outstanding tracks: “Durand,” “Find Me,” and “Effects of Clouds (Part 2).”
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