Kings of Convenience

Esplanade Concert Hall/Thursday

They proclaimed, softly, with their debut album in 2001 that Quiet Is The New Loud. Since then, Norwegian folk-pop duo Kings Of Convenience have steadily stayed the course even if the new acoustic movement has waxed and waned.

Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe’s low-key approach was reflected in how they casually strolled onto the stage which held four guitars and a grand piano.

Over the gentle strumming of guitars, Boe sang the sombre opener My Ship Isn’t Pretty from their latest album Declaration Of Dependence (2009), while Oye’s delicate falsetto blended harmoniously.

As the liner notes for the record helpfully pointed out, this was how they usually sang together with Boe taking the lead with his lower, lightly textured voice and Oye chiming in with a brighter tone on the higher registers.

Thus began a mellow, melodious and mellifluous evening. Watching them perform live, it became clear that apart from the vocals intertwining, there was also a dialogue going on between the two guitars as the two singer-songwriters plucked and strummed along.

Both of them also had their turns on the piano while Oye surprised the full-house crowd by imitating a trumpet during Peacetime Resistance. He also paid tribute to rock band Big Star’s recently deceased Alex Chilton with a moving rendition of Thirteen.

For the most part, Oye and Boe were so smoothly in sync that it was surprising to learn that they did not prepare a set list as they “like to keep themselves nervous”.

If they were, it did not show. Instead, they displayed a dry sense of humour when they engaged in conversation. Announcing that “earthquake” changes had taken place in the band since they last played here in 2006, they proceeded to cheekily swop guitars for three songs.

They encouraged audience participation by having their fans snap their fingers and also getting them to sing along on the chorus for Know-How, off their second album Riot On An Empty Street (2004).

Unfortunately, it was a lacklustre response and Oye sounded a little vexed when he said that only in London had it been this bad.

Perhaps stung by his comment, there was an enthusiastic reaction when Oye asked the crowd to stand up. The energy level went up noticeably during the rollicking Boat Behind and the more uptempo Misread.

The encore for the 100-minute-long show featured the exquisite Homesick, the jangly jauntiness of Toxic Girl and ended with fan request Cayman Islands.

I could not help but feel though that their concert here had been more enjoyable. Somehow, the vibe was different then, sweeter and more innocent, and their joy at performing here was irresistible.

Still, there is no denying the allure of “two soft voices blended in perfection” and with their beautiful tunes and lovely harmonies, the Kings quietly, but firmly, held court.

(ST)