The gig is on a cold night in Copenhagen, and the warmth of venue Hotel Cecil is inversely proportional to the -3°C outside. This is the second gig tourism trip to see Death Machine in Denmark having seen them last year just outside Copenhagen at Dexter’s Bar in Odense. Though the name suggests otherwise, Death Machine’s blend of electronic, acoustic and cinematic sounds, part-folk and part alt-pop, make them one of my favourites acts whether that’s on record or live. Hotel Cecil is a great example of how to run a venue with the stage high enough for everyone to see clearly and exceptional sound which is also pumped into the bar area so you won’t miss the music while you’re getting a round in.
Support comes from Celebration Records label mate Astrid Cordes. She cuts a simple figure, front-and-centre stage with a keyboard, Omnichord and her voice, but that’s all she needed to produce a fantastic set. Her natural charm with the audience raised a lot of warm laughter (something that came across despite even though I don’t speak Danish). Sublimating full band music into a solo set can be tricky but having listened to some of the recorded songs that Cordes played it’s clear that the essence of everything is her fabulous voice. The clarity is stunning and from quiet beginnings to full throttle choruses her range is impressive and the higher she went and the more power she brought the louder the audience cheered. A lot of European artists sing in English, but it’s great to hear someone sing in their native language and Astrid Cordes performed four songs in Danish including ‘Herningvej’ (the name of the road she takes driving home from her mother’s house) which she told me was played live for the first time. The track ‘Let Them Hear Every Step You Take’ (below) is taken from her most recent album Hurry Up and Kiss Me While the Baby’s Still Asleep.
Set list: ‘Skyggerne’ (Tr. ‘The shadows’) / ‘Strangers Now’** / ‘Det Gør Ondt’ (Tr. ‘It hurts’) / ‘Herningvej’ / ‘Surrender’** / ‘Noget for Nogen’ (Tr. ‘Something for Someone’) / ‘Let Them Hear Every Step You Take’** / ‘Portrait’* (* taken from debut EP Beautiful Mess / ** taken from the album Hurry Up and Kiss Me While the Baby’s Still Asleep)
Astrid Cordes: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | YouTube
Death Machine by name, life affirming by nature. The band have a quality that lifts the soul and draws the listener in to the warm glow they create. That glow was matched by the stage haze which diffused the lighting and matched the promise of the looped electronics at the start of the opening song ‘Opium Wound’ whereas the pulse quickening rhythm of ‘Beat the Drum’ got the crowd moving. Death Machine have a way of moving effortlessly from achingly beautiful songs such as ‘Vending Machine’ and ‘Bring it Back’ through the widescreen wonder of ‘Cocoon’ and ‘Dawning Eyes’ to the upbeat joy of their closing songs ‘Modern Man’, ‘Up’, and ‘Papercuts’
Somehow I am always taken aback by the quality of Jesper Mogensen’s voice. It manages to be gentle, almost dreamlike, but with a strength that holds your attention. But the great thing about Death Machine is the collective sound of the band, and what an amazing live band they are; six people who all bring something special to the live show. Morten Vinther’s bass playing is sublime, often walking around the tune like Carole Kaye or matching the beat of Sven Busck Andersen who, in turn, never gets in the way of the song but always knows when to add the perfect fill (Vinther also provided the soaring guitar solo in ‘Dawning Eyes’). Simon Christensen on keyboards has the fingers of a poet adding perfect splashes of electric piano or well-placed synth. Like keyboard twins, he works in tandem with Per Vilhelm who not only adds synths but all the electronic swells and flourishes that act like sonic glue throughout. But, for me, the standout moments came from listening to Julie Dybvad and Jesper’s voices weave together. They demonstrate a near telepathic ability to match each other in tone and meter. You can see Julie smiling at one moment and getting lost in another as two voices become one. There is no too-cool-for-school attitude, it’s clear from the shared smiles on stage that this is a band that truly enjoy playing these songs together.
Death Machine are a band that have never disappointed ever since I first heard the album Orbit in 2019 and described them as having the ability to ‘forge a powerful bond between earth-bound frailty and space-bound optimism’, and judging by the exuberant audience reaction at Hotel Cecil I am amongst like-minded people in this thoroughly entertained Danish crowd.
Jesper Mogensen – vocals and guitar, Sven Busck Andersen – drums, Morten Vinther Ørberg – bass, Simon Christensen – keys, Julie Dybvad – vocals and guitar, and Per Vilhelm on keyboards and electronics.
Set list: Opium Wound / Beat the Drum / Vending Machine / Cocoon / Bring It Back / Isle of Mine / First Blood / Found a House / Bleak / Maze / Days / Dawning Eyes / Tied / Years / Modern Man / Up / Papercuts
Death machine: Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | YouTube
Review by Paul F Cook
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