Liima, a new band formed by Finnish percussionist Tatu Rönkkö plus Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen and Rasmus Stolberg of Danish act Efterklang, took to the stage for their live Scottish debut in Edinburgh’s Summerhall.
With debut album, ii, featuring songs written in Finland, Berlin, Istanbul and Madeira during four week- long residencies, it was a culturally varied sound, however consistently retaining Scandinavian elements. Their wonderfully synthesised sound with more knob twiddling, laptop surfing, beards and woollen beanies than you could care to envisage were obvious to the eye.
Kicking off the gig with Song by Toad’s project, DigitalAnalogue, who 
was assisted by the likes of Supermoon, or known better to some as Neil from Meursault, the audience were indulged with amplified discordant synth. Playing tracks such as Café Royal, No. 99 and Wapping Road, it was the perfect ambience, paving the way for the Finnish boys to follow. Concluding their set with a cover of Thee Silver Mt. Zion’s Memorial Orchestra’s The Triumph of Our Tired Eyes, they set the tone nicely for the headliners, finishing off their delicately dissonant performance.
Noting the diverse crowd as Liima hit the stage, it is clear that their style and influences are enjoyed across a broad spectrum, witnessing mothers and fathers hitting the dissection room with their teenagers and young twenty-somethings. Pleasing multi-generations of gig-goers, Liima, translated from Finnish means ‘glue.’
From a simple live set-up, synthesizers, drum samplers, vocals, effects pedals and a bass guitar the four were able to draw upon their creative dynamic, playing by intuition like a collective conscience, to shape improvised sketches and ideas into songs. Marginally late on stage as the crowd chattered and the room filled, as the lights dimmed and the audience muted with immediacy. Playing glass jars as percussion, electronic synths and samplers, this Summerhall crowd were treated to their first ever Scottish live concert, they proclaimed.
Wearing their own merchandise which includes a t-shirt with the words, “the water makes you sick,” it is obvious they are really looking to use this as a marketing exercise, as much as they are an enjoyable live gig.
Reminding Efterklang fans that Liima is the new project, there are some of the same idiosyncrasies in the amount of long luscious locks on stage.
Repetitive eighties electro oft fills the room, as intensity levels fired up with the tempo and light choreography. The crowd blatantly immersed, some even raised their hands. It’s not a far cry to utter that this lot would be overjoyed to see a live performance from these Scandinavian lads yet again.
They would be massively welcomed.
