IAMX 03.27.10

As a presentation of their new mix album 'Dogmatic Infidel Comedown OK', an anagram of 'Kingdom of Welcome Addiction', IAMX are back with a spring tour to Europe. Our country was an unmissable event considering the growing number of fans and the forays made by the band in a wide range of movements, from Indie, through the most avant-garde Electronic to the most alternative and even “dark” conventions. And the many collaborations of his latest work, with groups such as COMBICHRIST or AESTHETIC PERFECTION, attest to this.

As for the ex - SNEAKER PIMPS ensemble, we could see significant changes: neither the fireproof guitar, Dean, nor the excellent drummer, Tom, who have formed another side project, were present. The room, brimming with public and expectation, welcomed with joy the appearance of the frontman, for whom each live show is an experience only comparable to making love with hundreds of people.

The night opened with “The Great Shipwreck of Life”, as in all the stages of this tour characterized by a new montage that is more powerful and theatrical than the previous one. On that occasion (2008) we enjoyed a somewhat more sober show, reminiscent of the synth arrangements that elegantly link the tracks. "Nature of Inviting", endowed with an unbridled sensuality, gave way to "The Alternative", the undisputed hit of the band that Chris Corner reinterpreted taking the reins of percussion. With the audience already in his pocket, he sang “Sailor”, an irresistible piece from his first album, which is itself a hymn to sexual ambiguity. "My Secret Friend" slowed down the tempo and served as a prelude to "I am terrified", whose heartbreaking power has been deconstructed by Alec Empire in recent mixes. “Running” and “Mercy”, treated with introspection and delicacy, made up a magical moment of the concert, where the ethereal quality of the first and the romantic preciousness of the second shone. The hypnotic and enigmatic “Tear Garden” brought us out of the melancholy and with “Spit it Out”, a melodramatic classic, we entered a new spiral of joy and exaltation. “You Can Be Happy” made us vibrate to unsuspected levels thanks to the frenetic dialogue between the guitar and the vocal, now a runaway drummer. We reached the zenith with “Think of England”, whose unstoppable riff works sensationally on every live show. So far, the bulk of the concert.

"Kiss and Swallow", always one of the favorites, opened the first encore where the spectacularity of "Nightlife", glamorous electroclash, and "President" shone, one of the best cabaret and vaudeville revivals of the moment.

In the second encore, “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction” we were all struck by a clear allusion to bullfighting (we don't know yet if Herr Corner wanted to fuel our controversy) and to culminate, as usual “After Every Party I Die”, electrifying track breakers where they exist.

In total, seventeen songs compared to eighteen from Paris or London, with some variations on the set, as electrorock landmarks such as "The Negative Sex" or "Bring me Back a Dog" were conspicuous by their absence.

The capacity of the room was somewhat fair due to the large influx of public; neither did we enjoy the priceless sound of a Bikini. As for the ensemble, keyboardist Jeanine was full of energy and sympathy; not so Alberto, the guitarist, who was too impassive and tremendously decaffeinated. The drummer did a more than acceptable job considering his immediate incorporation.

And finally, Chris, who showed off the charisma and vocal virtuosity to which we are accustomed, although he was somewhat more distant and withdrawn, far from the courage and ecstasy that he reached on stage in 2007. Not for that we are going to forget that IAMX will continue to be a “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde ”of music, one of the best and most groundbreaking bands of the decade, that manages like no one else to marry passion and debauchery and still arouse unwavering adherence.

Photographs by Angel Trullen

Text by Felipe Trigo