When the buzz first started to build around LA-based keyboardist Kiefer circa 2017, it was thanks to his raw self-produced albums that set his earworm tunes and hypnotic piano loops against subtly off-kilter beats and synth bass in a sub-genre that’s now more widely known as ‘lofi’.

While this has now started to become a parody of itself, Kiefer has done the smart thing and hit the road across the US, Europe and UK with his punchy trio (and quartet) and not just rewarded his sizeable fanbase with a far more visceral experience but also revealed he’s a masterful keys player with a signature sound, not just a one-trick home producer.

Kiefer (wisely) didn’t tell his bandmates Krstajic and Titus that this particular gig in LA was being recorded, and Something For Real successfully bottles an unfettered performance fuelled by the band’s white-hot chemistry. Here it’s the Rhodes that’s the keyboardist’s primary voice with occasional synth sounds picking out the drunkenly-timed theme of opener ‘Cute’. Young drum hero Titus really impresses with his modern mash-up of jazz technique and ferocious drum’n’bass, rock and hip hop beats, with some Dennis Chambers-style polyrhythms thrown in for good measure.

With such a strong rhythm team holding down the ever-shifting grooves, Kiefer solos tastefully, stretching out on the slow-burning gospel-tinged title track to construct a hymn-like solo before the layers of chords allow Titus to drive the tune home. It’s Kiefer’s easy-going authenticity and commanding playing, coupled to his dynamite rhythm section, that seals this hugely enjoyable live set. It makes you wish you’d been in the room too.