Mount Kimbie, O2 Institute, Birmingham - review
The atmosphere was electric as Mount Kimbie performed in a heavy blanket of smoke, courtesy of the relentless machines that shrouded not only the band, but also the audience.
The group walked onto the stage with absolute confidence in the fact that this London duo, consisting of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos, backed by an additional drummer and keyboardist, were here to provide a show.
There was a sense of continuity from the fingertips of the musicians on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on their chosen instruments, whether it be a guitar or keyboard, to the eardrums of everyone in the audience.
It was a fairly small and intimate crowd, leaving members of the audience the room to shuffle and bob as they wished; something which each and every person in the crowd took advantage of. They varied from a majority of young 20-year-olds, like me, to a slightly older audience that stood back from the main congested area near the centre of the venue but still enjoyed the music.
If they were not indie kids in stripy tees and rolled up jeans, they were in round glasses, with nose rings and new balance shoes; a style reflected by the act themselves.
Pulsing soft blue lights illuminated the audience as much as the performers, and they gathered momentum in unison with the songs to excitedly flash as quickly as strobe lights during the choruses of Before I Move Off, from the band’s debut LP Crooks and Lovers in 2010, along with Home Recording from their second release, Cold Spring Fault Less Youth from 2013.
There were slight equalisation errors at the beginning of the gig, making Mount Kimbie’s almost incomprehensible vocals even less understandable. Slight rhythm issues, indistinguishable to the untrained ear, highlighted a few of the problems that became apparent onstage.
Aside from that, it was a real treat to watch their performance which was every bit as anonymous as the music they create. Hidden under heavy smoke and bright lights, they were mere silhouettes, there to produce good music, as opposed to putting on a visual performance bar the lights.
There was little interaction with the crowd as the artists were as entranced with their own electronic music as their audience was.
Mount Kimbie presented the audience with a very respectable set list, combining the best from their newest LP release, Love What Survives, released September 2017, with audience favourites from their previous two releases.
The album has been met with critical acclaim, both nationally and internationally, featuring collaborations with Indie star King Krule, also known as Archy Marshall, and Electronic R&B legend James Blake. This release is an altogether more cohesive, band-based and rhythm-driven release than Mount Kimbie’s previous works which was entirely evident in the live show, featuring, unusual in electronic music, a live drum kit.
