🎶 ILK x KU.BE Presents: MESMER & Kasper Tranberg Solo - A Night of Melodic Illusions

MESMER

On April 29th, the electro-acoustic trio MESMER will grace the stage at KU.BE to celebrate the release of their new album, Terrain Vague II, which is set to be unveiled on April 22, 2026, under the label Arbitrary. 🌊✨

Drawing inspiration from field recordings collected in Læsø, Frederikshavn, and Aalborg, MESMER crafts an intense and immersive auditory environment, where the sounds of harbors, coastlines, and urban spaces serve as the architectural bedrock of their music. Using a blend of improvisation, compositional frameworks, and an elaborate electro-acoustic setup including synthesizers, trumpet, drums, and modular systems, they transform these sonic imprints into both personal and collective sound voyages.

Terrain Vague II embodies transitional spaces with boundless potential—a reflection of a society in flux. In the concert setting, the lines between composed pieces and improvisational fluidity, as well as control and freedom, begin to dissolve. Audience members will be warmly welcomed into a sensuous realm designed for deep listening and active engagement. 🎧🔥

MESMER is composed of Emil Jensen, Victor Dybbroe, and Anders Filipsen. Despite forming in 2023, these talented musicians have collaborated closely for over 15 years through various mediums including music, film, and installation—an alliance that has garnered them two Danish Music Awards and appearances at the renowned Roskilde Festival, along with installations at venues like the Danish Architecture Center.

With Terrain Vague II, MESMER aims to enhance their artistic stance, affirming the power of sound to forge connections, foster presence, and explore new perspectives of existence in the world. 🌍💫

Kasper Tranberg Solo: Melodic Illusions

Kasper Tranberg, renowned as a remarkable trumpeter and bandleader, is acclaimed as a unifying force and a pivotal voice in Danish jazz. With a rich discography of 15 albums to his name and notable recognition including the Ben Webster Prize, he is celebrated for his recent solo performances across Denmark, Europe, and Japan. 🎺🌟

In Melodic Illusions, Tranberg explores pan-melodic orientations and phenomenology, concentrating on the essence and experience of melody. His music unfolds as an invitation into a shared fantasy, driving the audience forward with rhythm and swing that is deeply anchored in jazz. Additionally, his work exhibits a profound fascination with the weightless, the imaginative, and the open-ended. Influences range widely—from Japan's conch-shell instrument, Horagai, and the vibrant tableaux of Kabuki theater to Lolland blues and ancient burial mounds. 🎶🌌

This solo concert will celebrate the release of two albums on ILK: the solo trumpet work, 12 Melodic Illusions for Solo Improviser, and Melodic Illusions for Sextet, featuring a dynamic ensemble of six leading figures from the European improvisation scene.

The concert hall at KU.BE provides an intimate and ideal atmosphere for this profound solo experience, drawing the audience into an intense and personal musical space where music, sound, fantasy, and presence converge into a unified experience, as invited by Kasper Tranberg.

Kasper Tranberg – Trumpet

Don’t miss this unique exploration of sound and melody! 🎉