#nivhek

The performance started slow, like many solo sound artists, they need a few minutes to build up their world. However soon, the room was transported to tracks off her Our Hands Against The Dusk and Heaven Come Crashing albums. Particularly the tracks off the latter were amazing to experience live. I say experience because next to the impressive sound Nayar created, there was also great use of light and smoke. Especially when she was swallowed by light or smoke as her sound dominates the room. It remains impressive to just see a guitar player disappear in smoke.

Nivhek, a project of Liz Harris (who’s also known as Grouper in the (dark) ambient scene), had a different approach. The audience was shown a vague piece of experimental film, which featured images of what could be smoke, snow or fire while there was a roster superimposed on the screen. Roster or the image of a factory entrance? It was vague, okay. All the while, a sole red light shone upon Harris as she summoned an impressive sound archive to accompany the film.

Listen/purchase: After its own death / Walking in a spiral towards the house by Nivhek