Nobelberget, Stockholm

Since Sónar’s 1994 inception, the Barcelona-based festival of musical and technological innovation has steadily grown in stature and recognition, to the point where today it has hosted events in over 20 different cities around the world.

With a line-up boasting the likes of Hudson Mohawke, Holly Herndon and Oneohtrix Point Never alongside Swedish acts such as Yung Lean, Ida Engberg and indie pop duo Niki & The Dove, Sónar Stockholm recognised the city’s healthy demand for cutting-edge music.

  • © Hilda Arneback

  • © Hilda Arneback

This year’s relocation to Nobelberget’s three-venue industrial complex provided an atmosphere and aesthetic that was appropriate of Sónar. Unfortunately, the venue experienced a few teething problems with sound on the first night, with The Black Madonna’s technical expertise being undermined by a system that at times appeared to want to steer clear of any mid-range. Similar problems abounded in SonarClub, where Squarepusher’s typically challenging live constructions were presented with stunning visuals but restricted sound.

Fortunately, on the second (and final) night, it became apparent that any issues had been amended during the exhilarating set from Oneohtrix Point Never. Daniel Lopatin’s performance, aided by a live guitarist, was a remarkable demonstration of his musicianship, with moments of both emotive ambience and hostile intensity enhanced by surreal visuals.

  • © Hilda Arneback

  • © Hilda Arneback

Elsewhere, Hyperdub’s Jessy Lanza added dynamism and warmth to her material (some of which is presumably taken from her forthcoming sophomore Oh No) with a live drummer; the two exploring complex rhythms with Lanza’s RnB-inspired vocals and pop synth hooks. Dutchman Fatima Yamaha, who followed Lanza in the SonarHall, proved a huge favourite with the Sonar crowd, as a set heavy on November’s Imaginary Lines album climaxed with two of his oldest cuts, Half Moon Rising, and, naturally, 2015’s ubiquitous night-closer: What’s A Girl To Do? It was a celebratory finale to Sónar Stockholm: an event still in its infancy, impressing in its early stages and leaving plenty of space to grow.