Attired similarly to a “teddy boy” of the 1950s, Ásgeir walks on stage with his full piece band, deceptively alluding that we are about to witness a mind-blowing ambient performance of his most recent album In the Silence. However, they unfortunately drowned out his vocals amidst a sea of brass and percussion, that nullified this performance.
Unusually I conceded to my urge to leave three songs in; poor sound mixing and engineering did not aid this artist, making this show at a prime London venue a meagre attempt at UK exposure in the capital, after a sensational gig at Islington’s Union Chapel, befitting for this Nordic talent.
Born and raised in the hamlet of Laugarbakki, where the population is sparse, Ásgeir is one of a grand family of musical talent, as aforementioned earlier in the year. After what seems like a fantastic year for this songwriter, playing at Iceland Airwaves and the release of the resoundingly popular In The Silence, it was disappointing to see this young Icelander suffer on stage.
However, supporting the headlining talent was the surprisingly twee, talented Lovisa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir, known more widely as Lay Low. Born in London to a Sri Lankan father and Icelandic mother we can also hear the wide-ranging cultures and influences in her music. Personally I pinpoint Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, Neil Young, The Eagles and K.T. Tunstall but there is surely more that I can’t place from this short but intriguing set. Others have spotted her love for country blues and honky tonk bop; the sum of these loves and her efforts manifesting itself into a genre-twisting experimental sound in the form of an album titled Talking About the Weather.
With an album title that exemplifies her roots, both in Britain and Iceland, two countries that have formidable relationships with the weather, and like to vocalise these matters, she is perhaps reminding the crowd, her and Ásgeir fans, of her background. This cultural fusion means that it comes as no surprise that there isn’t an entire commitment to one particular genre within her set, moving from her raspy Helganga to the more jovial, The Backbone. Her versatility, variety is evident but she holds it all together with handsome vocals and charming, modest interludes.
It is, frustrating that the concert did not end there, as it did frame the headliner in an unfortunate manner, painting him as the melancholic singer/songwriter that does not have the audacity to ensure that his voice is heard. Lost behind the brass, it should be the case that this Icelandic sensation should be back in the illustrious church surroundings which will project his fragile vocals. Despite this, the diehard fans of the Nordic musician’s carefully arranged tracks voice their enjoyment, and refuse to let the venue obstacles battle this. Personally, I hope that for the Icelanders in London Ásgeir next plays another acoustically echoing location that will propel his delicate lyrics to his forever-expanding crowd.
