The Institute of Contemporary Arts continues to boast one of the most sought-after calendars in London’s music scene.

A double-billed string of evenings with Danish musicians ML Buch and Astrid Sonne is testament to the venue’s flag-flying roster: the two artists are fresh off the back of heralded full-length albums that have carved a new set of parameters for what it means to be a singer-songwriter in 2024.

Astrid Sonne opened proceedings, emerging on stage as part of a string trio that included classical experimentalist Vanessa Bedoret and sound designer-cum-double bassist Emma Barnaby.

The trio looked overjoyed to be there, as they leapt into a call-and-response style introduction to the set. The relationship between these musicians was evidently tight-knit, and laid fertile ground for the live embellishment of Astrid Sonne’s studio recordings.

Sonne’s stage presence implied years of experience, as well as years of future success. Between the string improvisations, live FX trickery and immaculate vocals, she weaved her way through the highlights of her third studio LP, Great Doubt.

There is, however, no doubt about Astrid Sonne’s burgeoning musicality.

ML Buch soon followed, alongside drummer Rebecca Molina. As if in the cockpit of a space-bound rocket, the pair governed an overflowing desk of keyboards, FX pedals, guitars, synths and drums.

ML Buch’s vocal performance was remarkable, as she weaved through cuts from both her debut album Skinned and latest release Suntub. There’s a spellbinding radiance that the Danish performer emits, which is difficult to quantify.

Despite some technical difficulties cutting their set short, there was still a prominent mood of satisfaction in the departing crowd.

Between glistening guitar riffs, stripped back drum programming and poetic lyricism, ML Buch is a must-see live.

As she sings “I’m a nice little cooing dove, that you can get a hold of”, it sums the evening up perfectly.

Ethereal in nature, but tangible. This is music from somewhere celestial, but it makes perfect sense.