If Korallreven sounds more like an IKEA footstool than the newest Balearic duo out of Sweden, that’s because the group only recently made their US debut at LA’s Echoplex on March 8. Comprised of Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder (of The Radio Dept), Korallreven traces its roots to Joons’ trip to Samoa where he was inspired by local Catholic choirs and the South Pacific’s natural beauty.
A sparse, sweetly-grinning crowd took in the mellow show, nodding along to the dreamy beats. Joons – wearing Birkenstocks and an orchid in his hair (a nod to the band’s tropical origins?) – and Tjäder on the keyboards were joined by Victoria Bergsman of Taken By Trees for part of the set. Bergsman collaborated on Korallreven’s debut LP An Album By Korallreven.
The duo played for a mere 45 minutes, Joons gave a soft “Thank you,” and Korallreven sauntered off-stage with no encore. It was a suitably wistful end to the duo’s American debut.