Live Review: Bonobo, Romare

Romare is the perfect entree tonight. He starts off by mixing up a slow and steady down-tempo beat and gradually builds momentum to work the crowd. This progressive pace quickens as do our heartbeats as the sound of pounding bass reverberates through the theatre. Romare's arms stretch out to the various pieces of equipment around him. He gets completely in the zone and examines each spin of the turntable, each touch of a button intensely.

"This is my second show in Australia in three years," announces Simon Green (aka Bonobo). But tonight is unlike anything we've ever seen from Bonobo before, since he brings his full live band to our country for the first time to celebrate his latest release Migration. And boy is there a shitload of equipment up there on stage! One by one each member of his impressive ten-piece band take their places behind instrument stations. There's string and horn sections, keyboards and drums, with Green in the middle of the stage with his bass guitar and collection of synthesisers. The graceful Szjerdene also joins in at moments and provides live vocals to accompany the genre-melding electronic music.

This evening's ambient performance is a completely immersive visual and auditory experience that flows as a continuous piece from beginning to end. We witness a spectacular display that takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey through colour and space that's perfectly synchronised with the tempo of Bonobo's music. Visuals allow us to float over the exotic landscapes of deserts and mountains with unusual patterns and formations while soaking up the ethereal soundscape.

Szjerdene lends her spellbinding vocals to tracks including Break Apart and First Fires, both of which have soulful and soothing qualities to suit the earthy atmosphere and haunting aesthetic. "I wrote this one with a friend of mine, Nick Murphy, who's a Melbourne man," is how Green introduces No Reason. Disappointingly, Murphy doesn't make a guest appearance but Szjerdene steps in and does an incredible job nonetheless. "We've got the time of our lives now," the audience sings in unison during the final chorus and the lyrics are representative of our experience here tonight.

The pace changes with some louder moments such as during the tribal Bambro Koyo Ganda, which contrasts a traditional Moroccan vocal alongside a lively house beat. The dancefloor comes to life with an infectious surge of energy and we get carried away. "Was anyone here last night? Tonight is way better!" Green exclaims. It really can't get any better than this, so his statement must be true. Green is completely in touch with his audience and knows exactly how to move the room; he's like a conductor incorporating the right amount of build-up and momentum as we let the bass pulsate through our bodies. Bonobo's live show is truly exceptional and unlike anything else.