Live Review: Husky, Wafia

Featuring electric guitar, electronics and a beautiful vocalist whose voice is situated somewhere between Sarah Blasko and Lorde, duo Wafia have a lot of potential. An early track’s melody sounds like a long-lost Irish folk tune that winds itself around the ribcage: “Your voice lingers in the hallway/Your voice lingers in my heart.” The electronics add a layer of atmosphere, but could integrate better with delicacy of the songwriting and singing. There are technical glitches and an unbalanced mix where the beats aggressively overpower and are slightly out of time. This settles eventually though, and the final two songs of the set harbour some great ideas. These have a more R&B-influenced sound, and make further use of the vocals with samples. Future exploration of effects on the vocals beyond looping could be a great avenue for the group. Wafia are a band of astounding talent, finding moments of haunting beauty, but still looking for themselves in amongst the ideas of folktronic R&B.

Husky’s debut album was released in 2011 and a new one is set for release later this year. And yet, enthusiasm for the Melbourne four-piece has not waned, tonight’s show selling out days earlier. Opener Dark Sea begins a run of high-energy, up-tempo numbers, and lead vocalist Husky Gawenda looks positively gleeful to be performing. A warmth emanates from the performers, as well as a clear, consistent musical chemistry. There is a move to slower, moodier numbers, like Tidal Wave, Hunter and newie Deep Sky Diving, echoing the sound of The Decemberists or Augie March in their quieter moments. The progressions are surprising, eerie and immersive. A jammed-out, psychedelic feel is present in their new tracks, and keys player Gideon Priess shows his considerable talent on an instrumental track. History’s Door gets a loud cheer, as does latest single I’m Not Coming Back. It powers ahead with its syncopated Nick Drake-style guitar and the driving drums opening up to the shimmering chorus.

Watching a skilled band play is seeing something created that is greater than the sum of its parts. This is demonstrated by Husky, most particularly in their use of harmonies. It is impossible to discuss the brilliance of their performance without constantly making reference to what is their greatest asset. The songs themselves are artfully written, with a sense of timelessness about them. However, it is the thoughtful arrangement and tasteful adornment of harmonies that takes it to the next level.

After an amusing exit-less encore (“There’s nowhere to go! Just clap a bit more and we’ll pretend we walked off and back on.”), it is the final song – tentatively titled Heartbeat – that is the cherry on top of what is a polished and energetic performance. Huddled around two mics, it is an Americana-inspired track, each member singing a duet with lead vocalist Gawenda at various points. Freshly written and heartfelt, it shows a further maturation of their songwriting.