Belgian composer and producer Tom Soetaert, working under the name OUTER, continues his slow-burning return with ‘Svartsengi,’ the second single from his forthcoming album Glowing Mountains in the Sky, due February 13th, 2026.
Like much of OUTER’s work, the track inhabits a space where contemporary classical composition, ambient post-rock, and intimate chamber pop gently blur into one another, akin to the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Olafur Arnolds and Sigur Rós with flecks of Bon Iver thanks to the beautifully layered Saxophone work.
The track takes its name from the volcanic region in southwest Iceland near the fishing village of Grindavík. In 2022, escalating volcanic activity led to the evacuation of the town, including the home of close friends of Soetaert. While the house still physically exists, it remains inaccessible, neither fully lost nor truly present. That uneasy in-between state becomes the emotional nucleus of ‘Svartsengi,’ a song less about destruction than about the psychological weight of waiting, and the quiet grief of letting go before loss has fully arrived.
At its core is a fragile lo-fi piano tape loop, worn and cyclical, as if replaying a memory that refuses to settle into the past. The repetition feels intentional rather than static, a sonic metaphor for moments suspended in time. Around it, mist-like layers of sound gradually emerge: distant electronics, restrained harmonies, and Soetaert’s soft, almost whispered vocals, which seem to drift rather than assert themselves. There is no dramatic crescendo here, but more a restrained, delicate movement through emotion and transportive musicality.
Adding a crucial emotional dimension is the unmistakable trumpet of Norwegian musician Arve Henriksen. Known for his breathy, voice-like tone, Henriksen’s playing hovers somewhere between melody and atmosphere, carrying both lament and tenderness. His lines feel less like statements and more like questions — unresolved, open-ended, and human. Together with the vocals, they give ‘Svartsengi’ a sense of suspended motion, echoing the uncertainty at the heart of its story.
Listen below and keep an eye out for updates on the upcoming album and live dates.