I was asked this question by a friend a couple of weeks ago. With no preconceptions about who Kiasmos were or what their music was like (apart from “listen to the album, it’s very special, you’ll fucking love it”) I stuck on ‘Burnt’ and after a blissful 6 and half minutes…I was sold.
The duo’s sound captures that beautiful yet intense combination of dark-distorted basslines, ethereal-ambient keys and violins, and haunting-soft piano. The combination stirs that same emotional centre inside that other favourites of mine, like Jon Hopkins or Moderat, do so well too.
Luckily, I hadn’t missed too much – despite Ólafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen developing the project since 2009 – their self-titled debut album was only released at the end of October on Erased Tapes. I quickly purchased the record and as predicted, I did fucking love it!
The duo is a collaboration of Iceland-born Arnalds, a renowned electronic/piano centred musician-cum-sound engineer (he also won a BAFTA for his Broadchurch sound track), and Rasmussen, from the Faroe Islands and indie-electronic band – Bloodgroup. It may have taken 5 years to get where there are now, but I am so glad for it.
So now, I most certainly am coming to Kiasmos – which is on Saturday 29th November at Village Underground.
Joining Kiasmos there is label-mate Rival Consoles, up-and-comer Luka, and the incredible Dauwd (if you haven’t heard Dauwd yet – get on it!). Below is a little taster for all 3 (note: the Rival Consoles and Luka tracks are freebees).
If you’re coming, see you at the front, if you’re not, try to get a resell or catch them all in 2015!
Danger x
// Function Four // 