I have always had an impression that a certain type of instrumental music would not be easy to present in a live show setting. There are no vocals after all, so there is no verbal message, and everything relies on whether the audience is able to catch the vibe of the performance rather quickly. At least, that was something rattling in my head as I entered den Atelier in Luxembourg City to see the Icelandic-Faroese duo, Kiasmos, yesterday evening. And man, was I wrong.
Pretty well warmed up by the set of the supporting act, Ben Lukas Boysen, a German composer and producer, the crowd gathered by the stage was in the right mood from start to finish. Kiasmos’ instrumental music, oscillating between ambient and experimental techno, is not full of your typical electronic bangers. Quite the contrary. Combining electronics and organic sounds, it is pushing real emotions through analog speakers. It is powerful, intense and, yes, cleansing.
It should not come as a surprise that such an approach would emerge in this very case, with the two parts of the Kiasmos duo coming from a fusion of different musical worlds. From Ólafur Arnalds’ experience in film scoring, to Janus Rasmussen’s global DJ sets, their sonic combination is different than usual, truly emotional, and very unique.
This uniqueness manifests itself in not just the music itself, but also in Kiasmos’ approach to performing it live. In a scenery where the sounds play as important role as the light, yesterday’s experience was truly spectacular. Each part of the arrangement, with its separate pulse, had a different reflection in the behaviour of the lighting equipment. And it was this very dance of colours which took over at some stage, making itself the main actor, the replacement for vocals, the source of increasing emotions, which were growing continuously until the cathartic finish. No words needed, just pure release of a combined stream of consciousness made up of exhales of the few hundred souls who attended this unforgettable spectacle.
Do not miss Kiasmos and their tour if you are around any venue that they are about to play at. Today they are in Amsterdam, and tomorrow in Berlin. I’d go again if I could. And you should, too.
Kiasmos, Live @ den Atelier, Luxembourg, 24th September 2024
Photos: Bartek
Not heard of Kiasmos before, but I really enjoyed Burst. Think I may have to give them more of a listen. Glad you enjoyed them live too! 😊
Thanks for your comment! Yes, their live show was really something different. Loved it from start to finish and highly recommend it! 🙂