Live Review: The Kite String Tangle

There’s been a lot of anticipation building around the release of a new record ever since last year’s breakout single, Given The Chance, sent The Kite String Tangle, aka Danny Harley, hurtling into the limelight.

In the less than a year, the rapid rise saw him go from playing in front of a modest gathering at Red Deer Festival to packing out one of the main stages at Splendour in the Grass. The launch of his debut EP, Vessel, has finally come and what better way to mark its arrival than with two sold-out shows at The Spiegeltent in this year’s Brisbane Festival. His home crowd has stood up and responded with resounding support – now it’s all up to Harley to bowl ‘em over with a TKST experience that fits the bill.

Over the course of recent performances it’s seemed as if TKST had been over-extending himself a little, with the 60-minute time slot wearing things a bit thin in places. Tonight however, TKST appears to soar on a high wind, whilst glimpses of manifold forms tease at future potentials that reach even higher. The enclosed intimacy of The Spiegeltent provides the perfect setting for this music, while the ambience really enables the set to lift off. After Vessel opener, Arcadia rounds out a few solid deliveries, a four-piece string section and drummer are brought out on stage for a rendition of Adventure Club’s Wonder. On its conclusion, Harley jokes about wasting the players’ talents with the demands of such simplistic accompaniment, but he’s wise to keep them restrained and not over-saturate his sound with their flavours. The slight nervous quality of his between-song banter expands on his music and lyrics by further sketching an impression of vulnerability. It also gives off the sense that the swiftness of TKST’s ascent has left the man on the ground standing flabbergasted, and perhaps even a little humbled by it all.

In what starts to seem like a regular game of musical chairs, a saxophonist is brought out for What’s The Point?, featured vocalist Tiana Khasi is brought out for Stone Cold, and finally the string section and drummer are brought out again for the successful Like A Version cover of Flight Facilities’ Clair De Lune. Harley is more than happy to go it alone when it comes time for the rapturous finale, Given The Chance, but of course this is the moment where everybody comes together in chorus, and the room-sized choir becomes his final accompaniment. The growing strength of TKST’s live sound and catalogue of songs, along with the elements of embellishment from guests, all work wonders towards shaping a set that feels more confident, varied and better-paced than ever.