The Danish band embarks on tour in support of their debut album, Blue.

The dreamy Danes of Communions are set to play The Lexington this gloomy Wednesday, and already before the show the guys seem less than impressed with the British way.

“What’s up with you Brits and rules”, drummer Frederik Lind Køppen exclaims as he’s asked to move along, yet again, by a grumpy guard. Rules aside, there seems to be nothing but compassion to show when Communions enter the stage a few minutes later.

Opening with Forget It’s A Dream from their Communions EP, the prolonged guitar heavy intro gears up the crowd for what’s to come. Their hazy dream-pop quickly fills the room with a collective escapism; we’re all let in on a little secret.

Their intricate guitar compositions and infectious rhythms excel in a live setting. As frontman, Martin Rehof, delves into the chorus of Today, crooning, “Tooday, I wish that I could say, say what I want to say”. The self-deprecating lyric gives a reassuring feeling midst Jacob van Deurs Formann’s infusing trance-like guitar-melody.

Following up with another banger from their recent debut, Blue, as Communions dive headfirst into Come On, I’m Waiting. The duality in the music translates throughout their live performance, which is incredibly giving in spite of few words exchanged.

Though this show promotes the release of their content debut album, Communions still make room for their older material. Blue does indeed colour the set, yet we see a glimpse of their earlier tunes throughout the hour-long set. Wherever is one that heavily features the distinctive low-fi sound their earlier work claim, yet live it seamlessly fits in with their sharper contemporary tunes, giving the entire set a subtle edge of diversity.

“Thank you so much! This one is called Eternity,” Martin says, and indeed it does create an eternal momentum. The crowd willingly sings along, though it really is the complex constellation of Mads Rehof’s nostalgic basslines, and Frederik Lind Køppen drums, that makes the track ascend above all.

The atmospheric delays descending within their tunes helps ground the melody, contrasting brilliantly with the soaring reverb and the punk-esque basslines. It is ultimately the quality of their melodies, and abilities as musicians, that are the focus of Communions live show. Their introvert stage presence co-exists with their escapist tunes, letting the music speak the words that can’t be described. Somehow, the obscurity works for these Danes.

She’s A Myth is not only the kind of declaration we can all just dream of hearing, it is an exceptional live song mixing 80’s nostalgia with a modern shoegaze tint and Martin’s idiosyncratic vocals singing: “And it feels like a drive, I’m watching from a distance, moving at the speed of the light.” Though this tune for sure makes you understand the allusions to bands like The Cure and Oasis, Communions still have a uniqueness to their craft. The boys possess a cutting edge that offers something fresh in the sonics of their melodies.

“We’re gonna play an old song. Thank you so much for watching,” they announce as they break into Out Of My World a low-fi, raw and dark tune, drenched in live reverb. It also works interestingly drifting in the context of their contemporary poppier direction.

Rounding of the evening with a dedication to ‘their oldest fan’ Communions have proven that they indeed do acquire the grace of their recordings in a live setting. The crowd’s enthusiasm reaches peak as the chords of It’s Like Air mount through the thick air of the venue, smashing all doubt – if there ever was any – that these guys possess great talent and potential.

As Communions leave the stage to the roaring sound of the appreciating mass I can only say I’m excited to see what the future holds for these Danes.

Photos: Aurora Henni Krogh