The Flashcards: Arin Aksberg

The Flashcards: Arin Aksberg - Solskinn (2026)

70/100

Genre: Ambient/drone

The 26-year-old Norwegian youth, Arin Aksberg, releases his third album—which literally translates to "sunlight"—under the Projekt Records label.

Overall, the warmth of the sunshine only truly reaches the heart when it's accompanied by emotional piano. Take, for example, "Glød", the intro to "Horisont", and the most comfortable track, "Drift". "Solverv" could actually be a contender, but its tones are quite sharp, making it a bit harsh on the ears. Meanwhile, "Aurora", "Polar", and the title track fail to bring a breath of fresh air as they feel contaminated by synths, and "Daggry" forms a drone that is noticeably harsh and delivered in a stuttering manner, despite the presence of field recordings within it.

This would be more fitting for fans of Ólafur Arnalds, Jon Hopkins, Hammock, and Harold Budd. Personally, I'll just stick to the safest track, "Drift".

Tracklist:

1. Daggry

2. Solverv

3. Glød

4. Aurora

5. Polar

6. Solskinn

7. Horisont

8. Drift

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