There’s something about Kiasmos that just gets people moving.
Sure, they’re an electronic duo who make ‘dance’ music, so it’s not too much of a stretch to make a statement like that, however I always find it’s just a little different with them.
It’s been 8 long years since the boys from Iceland graced our shores, which is unusual given Olafur Arnalds is a frequent visitor with his solo work, and given the litany of touring companies willing to bring electronic artists to the country (likely due to the lower logistical costs compared with bands). It doesn’t take long for the show to sellout – highlighting the immense demand to see the minimalist duo do their thing. In 2017, Kiasmos packed out the tiny Oxford Art Factory and blew the roof off – this time, the grandiose of the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House is the venue of choice.
There’s been many an electronic act to play the Concert Hall – from Moby to Jon Hopkins to The Presets to Underworld and many more. It’s no stranger to thumping bass, laser beams, strobe lighting and enough smoke to make even Keith Richards cough. Whilst I’ve only experienced a couple of these gigs, generally the flavour goes like this – the act begins their set and the audience is seated, lapping up the tunes and gazing upon the genius of their favourite artist on stage as they twist knobs, crank dials, push buttons, strike chords and jump around (I generalise here…), and towards the middle of the set as they start to amp up the energy the crowd reacts in kind, getting on their feet and starting to move. There’s exceptions to this rule at times, however it’s a fair stereotype.
Not tonight.
Kiasmos open with the sublime Grown from their latest offering II, which builds and swells through the crescendo to peak and mash with the near-highlight of the night Looped – and it’s here that the crowd gets on their feet. It’s genuinely a surprise, and I hear comments from punters around me acknowledging the same (although I’ll concede most are from the late 30s/early 40s and older crowd, who are probably concerned about their knees – that includes me). But it’s this surprise which makes me think that there just is something a little different about Kiasmos. The duo of Olafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen know a thing or two about making you move – having started together in 2009 and playing everywhere across the globe to sunglasses, raised hands, whistling, feet shufflin’ and the odd ‘yelp’ from the guy who’s really feelin’ it.
As the setlist continues through quite a few of the choice tracks from II (with a quick dip into Blurred from the similarly titled 2017 EP), I also make a mental note that the audience response is absolutely deafening for some of the tracks from their most recent release. It’s an incredible mix of pulsating rhythm, memorable melodics and interesting instrumentation (the album contains samples from the Balinese wilderness, as well as traditional Baliness instruments such as the gamelan). It’s a more mature, fuller record with plenty of interest sonic landscapes to explore – which contrasts with their earlier release. Whilst their debut self-titled album has arguably more memorable tracks, it’s undoubtedly more rhythm focused – with the ideas centred much more around a single rhythmic motif as the tracks build rather than exploring different sounds and textures. To each their own, but I side with the crowd and prefer their more melodic material. That said – the highlight for me tonight is personal favourite Thrown from their first album. If you want an introduction to Kiasmos, start with this near 10 minute epic.
After 80 minutes of crafty crescendos coupled with delicate drops, Kiasmos leave the stage to a still-hungry and ready to feed audience, and it’s no secret what’s left on the setlist. After the obligatory toilet break (I can only assume…), Arnalds returns to the stage on his own and starts to create a really fantastic atmosphere with swelling soft synths. He is a master – no stranger to ambient music (check out his solo work, particularly re:member). It’s honestly a shame that they didn’t spend a little more time experimenting together, opting to play their tracks similarly (definitely not identically) to the albums. After a few minutes, he’s rejoined by Rasmussen who immediately starts amping up the crowd in anticipation for what everyone knows is coming – crowd favourite and frequent set closer Bent. For good reason – it’s a quality track that has a fantastic ending that’s a perfect farewell. The duo deliver on all fronts and bring to a close a great set.
I’m not much of an electronic music fan these days. I listen to electronic music very sporadically, and generally my artists of choice are not the ones you’d consider typically ‘dancey’ – it’s the artists who use interesting sounds and percussive elements to create unique textures – think Bonobo and Jon Hopkins. I guess you’d consider my tastes to be more ‘minimal’ – so there’s not many electronic artists I’ve gone along to see that weren’t part of some music festival I went to when I was younger. Kiasmos will likely always be one of the artists I do continue to go see. They’re enjoyable without being too ‘in-your-face’ and there’s enough interesting ideas to keep my curiosity piqued throughout the set. If you’re looking for some new music and don’t mind fist-pumping in your bedroom – check these guys out and catch them next time they’re in town.
4.1/5.0
Kiasmos, Concert Hall, Sydney, Saturday July 12th 2025.
- Grown
- Looped
- Laced
- Sailed
- Told
- Blurred
- Flown
- Burst
- Thrown
- Burnt
- Gaunt
- Squared
- Bent
*Note: Setlist is approximate.
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