14.06.2015 L'Âme Immortelle

Blackfield Festival

Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II LD Asp IF and Sigma AF 50-150mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

After the wild and lively show by Letzte Instanz, it became opulently sentimental. L’Âme Immortelle had not been seen on stage for a long time, and so this was one of the rare opportunities to see them. After the intro "L’Étang Mâlo," Sonja Kraushofer took the stage and began with her clear vocals for "Tiefster Winter" from the 2003 album "Als Die Liebe Starb." Shortly afterwards, her band mate Thomas Rainer joined to provide the counterpart with his screams and growls.
This interplay of the two different characters, coupled with the lyrics that sometimes drift into the highest kitsch, forms the foundation of the band's electro-pop. Additionally, Kraushofer moved rather gracefully on stage, while Rainer repeatedly contributed dance moves. They were supported in their performance by a keyboardist and a drummer who were positioned on small pedestals at the edges of the stage, keeping the other two always in the center. From time to time, Rainer went to a third pedestal in the middle where another keyboard was ready for him. This band also provided a good cross-section of their work in their set, reaching back to 1997 with "Life Will Never Be The Same Again." Appropriately for the sad occasion of the last Blackfield Festival, their performance ended with "Requiem" from the 2008 album "Namenlos."
I had the pleasure of experiencing Sonja Kraushofer many years ago with her former project Coma Divine. I quite liked it back then, but today she had noticeable difficulties hitting the higher passages. Moreover, it was not entirely my taste overall, so I used their performance to recharge for the last two bands of the day. The audience seemed to enjoy it. Therefore, everyone should make up their own mind whether they like it or not. Personally, I would not give a clear recommendation for L’Âme Immortelle.