Album insights
In the midst of crafting impactful concept albums and groundbreaking soundtracks, including work on Denis Villeneuve's "Arrival," the acclaimed Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson had been contemplating a grand multimedia project since 2010. This project aimed to encompass his own visual concepts, direction, and music. Derived from Olaf Stapledon's cult science fiction novel of the same name, Jóhann Jóhannsson's magnum opus, "Last and First Men," intricately weaves together music, a film shot in a decaying futuristic landscape in former Yugoslavia on 16mm black and white film, and a narration delivered by Hollywood star Tilda Swinton. It serves as a poetic reflection on memory and loss. Over a span of seven years, Jóhannsson's compelling orchestral score emerged. Tragically, at the time of Jóhannsson's unexpected passing in 2018, he was still engrossed in finalizing "Last and First Men." Collaborating with him in this effort was Berlin-based composer and sound artist Yair Elazar Glotman, who completed the score posthumously. Additionally, Jóhannsson's longtime musical companions, including Grammy and Oscar-winning artist Hildur Guðnadóttir (vocals, cello, drums) and members of Theatre of Voices, came together to fulfill his breathtaking masterpiece.