"…the music on Otherworld may well be outside the orbit of prevailing listening habits, but the blend of what you might expect (sepulchral harmonies presented in sheathes of sound) is enhanced by what you might not (a distinct Icelandic sensibility that would not be too far removed from liminal moments provided by the likes of Sigur Rós).
As always, Anúna remains too distinctive for easy categorisation, which is both a creative virtue and a (perceived) commercial flaw, but the journey – undeterred by music-industry expectations – persists." The Irish Times
“otherworld” Lyrics & booklet: HERE
What sets Otherworld apart is the harmonious blending of works by two composers with distinctive compositional voices: Michael McGlynn and Yasunori Mitsuda.Both composers engage listeners deeply but do so in complementary ways that mutually enrich the album's theme. Otherworld includes four tracks from Mitsuda all of which feature on the video game Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and additional pieces composed/arranged by McGlynn. The album also features "Heyr himna smiður" by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, reflecting the significant contribution of Icelandic voices and inspiration to the project which was recorded at Sundlaugin Studios outside Reykjavík.
"Otherworld" is designed to engage, question, and inspire. It seeks to offer an alternative soundscape - one that exists apart from our world but is intimately connected to our personal emotions and reflections.