Author: Bartłomiej Krawczyk
IAMX, during the European tour promoting the album "Fault Lines 2", visited Tama Poznań on September 9
September 9 this year I had the pleasure of experiencing the IAMX concert live for the first time, which took place at Tama in Poznań. Chris Corner and his famous electronic project are currently on a European tour promoting their latest, tenth studio album "Fault Lines 2" , which was released on August 30, 2024.
Born in Middlesbrough (UK), Chris Corner is one of the founders of trip-hop /electronic band Sneaker Pimps, with whom he recorded four studio albums (the last one "Squaring the Circle" was released in 2021). Since 2004, Corner has been creating music in the independent electronic/synth-pop project IAMX, which also gained great popularity among the gothic subculture. In my subjective ranking of favorite IAMX albums, the podium will definitely include the spectacular debut "Kiss + Swallow" (2004), "The Alternative" (2006), which started my musical adventure with Chris' electronics, and the deeply personal "Metanoia" (2015 ).
Chris lived in Berlin for several years, enchanted by the sensual atmosphere of the German capital. However, (as he spoke openly in numerous interviews) he was plagued by depression, which resulted in insomnia, which was related to this potentially fatal disease - and, consequently, creative impotence. Over time, Chris managed to tame depression and learn to live with it. He became a stronger, happier artist, and his music helped many fans go through phases of loneliness, fear, anxiety, melancholy and mourning. The moving song "Insomnia" deals with Corner's problems with sleep. Suffice it to say that after several years in Berlin, in 2014, Chris moved to Los Angeles.
I was in Tama shortly after 19, while the IAMX concert was to start at 20.30. The number of excited fans of the project began to increase and the atmosphere became intense. I tried to position myself as close to the stage as possible to fully experience the visual spectacle of Chris and his accompanying musicians ( Sammi Doll - keyboards, Jon Siren - drums; Jon has previously drummed in numerous electro-industrial and industrial-metal bands such as Psyclon Nine , Dawn of Ashes or Front Line Assembly ). It is worth adding that Chris treats thousands of international IAMX fans as family, which is clearly visible at his concerts. The anticipation of each band's performance is accompanied by great excitement among the gathered audience. Corner's work is comprehensive and experimental, so each concert and visual masterpiece of IAMX is quite a surprise for the audience.
The concert started on time with the energetic and moving "Disciple" from the album "Fault Lines" (2023). Chris came on stage in a theater mask resembling a crown and immediately took over the audience, who adored him, adored him, and reacted intensely to his agile stage movements. In the breaks between individual songs, the musician joked with the audience, flirted with them, repeated that he loved the Polish audience and loved performing here with IAMX . Personally, I was also extremely impressed by the stunning mosaic of surreal, sometimes controversial and dark visuals and the perfect play of light. It is also impossible not to notice the excellent vocal form of Chris Corner , his androgynous stage presence and the perfection of the cross-sectional setlist, which I will reveal at the end. For this reason, it is worth going to future IAMX in Poland, which will take place in May 2025 in Krakow and Warsaw.
Setlist : "Disciple", "The X ID", "Sailor", "Aphrodisiac", "After Every Party I Die", "Break the Chain", "I Come With Knives", "Neurosymphony", "Fault Lines ”, “Spit It Out”, “The Alternative” and during the encore: “Happiness”, “No Maker Make Me”, “Bernadette” and “Mercy”.
Follow IAMX:
https://www.facebook.com/IAMXOFFICIAL
New album "Fault Lines²" : https://linkpages.pro/29E1z0
