A Celestial Epic with Glass Beams at Knockdown Center in New York

Glass Beams expands the electronica frontier with their intricate, hypnotic tracks.

Vocals are often the most memorable and, sometimes, essential part of a record. They can trigger our subconscious, gesturing us to release our emotions by singing — or even screaming — and lose ourselves in the music. But for the Australian trio Glass Beams, the catalyst for peeling these internal layers lies not in the lyrics but in the arrangement of instruments.

Tethered to the ’60s era of psychedelic rock, the group orchestrate meditative tracks that immersive the psyche with dreamy guitar licks, Eastern instruments, indie electronica, and mind-bending percussions. The only semblance of vocals you’ll hear on their two EPs (this year’s Mahal and 2021’s Mirage) are hushed ad-libs.

Born during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trio have quickly built an impressive following by extending the ambiguity beyond their discography. They have always performed with golden tassel masks, only one member of the group has been identified, and they have given only one known interview. In an era where fans have easy access to their favorite artists, these small clues pose more questions than answers.

Yet a bit of the group’s mystery was unveiled during their recent North American debut tour. After sold-out stops in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston, the Aussie band concluded last week’s run with a sold-out performance at the Knockdown Center in New York. (The second leg of their US tour starts later this fall.)

Photo credit: Miguel Florencio

The band’s chemistry transcended their cross-culture psychedelic records, treating everyone in the room to an immersive sonic odyssey.

Many in attendance donned warm colors, riviera shirts, and summer shorts. At one point in the night, a fan surfed the crowd with a bubble gun, acting as if they were the group’s fourth member, spreading relaxing energy with their aqueous instrument. The band’s stage presence was anything but tranquil, however.

Their body movements told a different story, one filled with adrenaline. Each guitar stroke was delivered with passion and intent, sparking quick flashes from the stage’s sunset orange light. Each snare hit had precise enthusiasm, operating as the pulse of an interstellar sonic journey. Each synth touch expanded the psychedelic aroma, venturing your mind deeper into the unknown. It’s easy to hide one’s face, but it’s impossible to conceal one’s spirit.

Throughout the night, the group did not say a single word, but their performance was, in a way, like a conversation. The trio encouraged crowd participation through hand-clapping gestures and the audience complied. People cheered and whistled in between songs as the band articulated their emotions with thankful hand signals.

We were all outwardly present with one another, but internally, we were on each our own journeys. Some in the crowd were jumping as others carefully swayed. Some were stiff but in awe, while others were dancing carefree. Each atmospheric note was up for interpretation, and we all filled the lyrical void with our internal thoughts.

In the end, we were coexisting simply through minimalist acoustic vibrations. Who knew that not saying anything could sound so powerful.

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