I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: February 20, 2025] Kælan Mikla

I had never heard of Kælan Mikla before this show was announced.  And, since I love music from afar  Was instantly intrigued by this is Icelandic band whose name means (according to Google) The Great Chill or (according to Wikipedia) Lady of the Cold.

They are a trio of Laufey Soffía on lead vocals, Margrét Rósa Dóru-Harrýsdóttir on bass and Sólveig Matthildur Kristjánsdóttir. on keys and more (although only keys for this show).

They came out on stage in dark and spooky lighting (later when I saw them at the merch table, I saw that they had interesting cracked and cobwebby makeup under their eyes.  And Soffia was dressed in an all black gown (seemingly made of toile) with super long fingernails.  It was like a goth flashback and I loved it.

So I guess this music is darkwave, a genre I don’t really know.  I feel like the few darkwave songs I’ve heard I didn’t like.  But maybe seeing it live is a different story, because the whole gothy presentation was fantastic.  I couldn’t really hear Soffia’s vocals (in part because they were in Icelandic, but mostly because of where I was standing), but she sang in variants of quiet, almost whispery singing and screams.  But it combined perfectly to generate a really retro spooky feel with cool modern feminist trappings. 

They have described their music as

“contains songs of regrets, shadows, witches and all the things that lure in the darkest hour of night, mixed with Icelandic folklore and reminiscence of the winter darkness that simultaneously frightens us and makes us feel at home,”

Sólveig typically hit an electronic pad to start the song which would unfold with a drum beat and washes of keys.  Some of the songs had synth lines as well.  I’m usually all about a live drummer but I don’t think that would have added much because of the whole electronic vibe of the songs.

Every couple of songs, Soffia would chat.  I feel like when she said they were from Iceland, the whole crowd murmured appreciation.  But really the crowd was quite supportive.  It’s not quite in the same vein as Alcest, although Alcest did record a song with them

I’m not sure why there is a live bass in the band, but it is a fantastic choice, because Margrét’s bass sound is phenomenal–deep and rumbly–and it often propels the song.  At times I felt a distinctive New Order vibe from the bass which I loved.

I would have liked to check out their merch when the night was over, but it was quite a zoo in the merch area, what with three bands and a coat check.  Plus it was already after 11.

I’m really glad I was able to arrive early enough for them (with the snow and ice on the road I feared I’d be late or worse).

1. new
2. Andvaka ♠
3. Sírenur ⇓
4. Stjörnuljós §
5. Sólstöður ⇓
6. Hvítir Sandar ⇓

§ single (2024)
⇓ Undir köldum norðurljósum (2021)
♠ Nótt eftir Nótt (2018)
æKaelan Mikla (2016)