Dark Dark Dark – The Lexington, London 30/11/10

Playing as a four piece the effortlessly charming Minneapolis based Dark Dark Dark take to the stage at The Lexington for their first ever London show. Having released their debut album Snow Magic nearly two years ago, the band’s chamber folk infused sophomore album Wild Go and their EP Bright Bright Bright make up the focus of tonight’s performance.

Nona Marie Invie’s vocals coo softly against the dim red glow of the stage lights as you can just about see her breath travel through the icy air. Brooding, lonely and heartfelt, their particular brand of dark, eastern inspired folk still manages to inspire a lively atmosphere. The chemistry between Nona and multi-instrumentalist Marshall LaCount is as playful and absorbing as the clattering, ringing and tinkering chimes of the bells that hang loosely from the drum kit. Haunting vocals and sweeping pianos inhabit songs like ‘In Your Dreams’ and ‘Daydreaming’, as energetic percussion punctuates Dark Dark Dark’s stark narrative.

Clarinets, accordion keys and cello strings ring out against Invie’s angry, humble Regina Spektor-esque vocals, adding to the off-kilter nature of their music and endearingly odd sensibilities. Lyrical refrains are foreboding and gently enunciated as the band near the end of their short 45-minute set. Commending everyone for making it through the snow Invie launched into an invigorating cover of Elephant Micah’s ‘Wild Goose Chase’, as she revealed that he (songwriter Joseph O’Connell) is playing across town and she hopes to channel his essence in her performance.

Dark Dark Dark instil a rich warmth through the shivering, coat wearing crowd this evening as their crunching guitar riffs, haunting keys, melancholic howls and rustic percussion rumble below ethereal vocals. The smoke machine bellows against the stunning resonances of ‘Robert’ and ‘Make Time’ as the band wind down what they may be able to honestly claim is their first encore in the UK.