A deliciously mild night surrounds the Brisbane Powerhouse, where Icelandic folktronica legend Ásgeir readies to spellbind the enraptured crowd.
GLVES commences the night (3 June) with her delicate storytelling, backed by pulsing rhythms and tracks overlaying didgeridoo and animal sounds. Her vocals soar under blue and red streaming lights, as she gushes rawly.'Borderland' is a dreamy pop track that perfectly introduces Ásgeir's set. His voice is smooth and captivating, as he bounces effortlessly through this falsetto.
The music oscillates between calm, sensitive moments to intense cacophonies. In one moment, a rhythmically spasmodic drum solo shines under rainbow lights.
'Vibrating Walls', a synthy song, plays as the stage floods blue, and it becomes clear that Ásgeir does moody exceptionally well. He shares his joy to be back in Australia, which "has always been really supportive of my music".
He plays 'Summer Guest' from his first album and dons a guitar for the first time. His vocal talents are on full display, as he shifts between tender notes and sudden guttural, edgy tones.
"Either find somebody new, or love me like I am," he sings in 'Like I Am'. The song rises and falls, then builds magnificently with brooding intensity under red lights. The syncopated drums again prove a real highlight.
Ásgeir performs 'Limitless' solo, starring impressive fingerpicking. His talent for beautiful songwriting and creating the feeling that nothing else matters are exceptional.
A second solo song, 'Pictures', creates the effortless feeling of sitting with him in his living room, as he recounts his deepest thoughts and dreams right to you.
The band return for 'On That Day', as he sings: "You don't get to call the shots that way." Indignant and resolved.
"This world that we created, I'll never forget," he shifts to optimistic for 'Youth', and the world he creates in his songs will certainly not be forgotten anytime soon.
Ásgeir takes time to introduce the band, which includes his brother on guitar. "Wherever I go, I'll find my way home." The piano sparkles gently in 'Breathe', before the drums kick in viciously after a moment of silence, right on time. Once again, the song builds brilliantly, bursting forth into bright hope.
'King And Cross' is met with glad cheers, perfectly sharp as the lights alternate between red and blue floods, equally shocking and effective.
'Snowblind' is dancey and again the drumming performance shines through. An interesting guitar solo ensues for 'Going Home' before 'Bury The Moon' closes the set with intense hornlike bursts.
The encore comes with 'Until Daybreak' and a beautiful red backdrop that becomes spattered with yellow beams shooting out. It is glorious. 'Torrent' finishes the show in characteristically glorious optimism.
Ásgeir is certainly a unique act, poignant and deep, interspersed with catchy beats and magnificent melodies simultaneously evoking a sense of longing and a sense of home. He is certainly unforgettable.
