Live Review: Hot Dub Time Machine, Furnace & The Fundamentals

Anyone that lives by the mantra 'Dance like no one's watching' would hail the frontman of Furnace & The Fundamentals. The ensemble look suave in matching white button-up shirts and black ties, as if they're about to serenade us with a Johnny Cash ballad. "NaaaAAAaaaAAAaants IgonyamaaaAAaaa," Furnace belts out of nowhere, as the band open up with Circle Of Life. They play through an array of pop anthems mashed together with a funky vibe, pulling off some pretty bizarre combinations (imagine Adele crossed with Nirvana). We wish the drummer was placed more centrestage as he's doing some flashy tricks with his drumsticks - but that probably would've compromised Furnace's dancing space. The lead guitarist plays saxophone (George Michael's Careless Whisper) and it's a crowd highlight. 

Following an ominous countdown, Tom Loud approaches the decks to signal the start of Hot Dub Time Machine. After a short video, similar to an inflight safety briefing, we zoom back to the '50s with hits from Bill Haley and Ray Charles. At first it feels weird to hear these tracks played - songs released as early as 1954 weren't exactly produced for club-grade stereo systems nor were they intended to be used by DJs. However, Loud makes it all work with re-mastered edits and seamless mixing, careful in choosing pop milestones that every man and his dog knows the lyrics to.

Through the '70s, the mix shies away from psychedelic rock and metal instead opting towards disco, funk and soul anthems. This is understandable since the likes of Sister Sledge and ABBA are easier to dance to than Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath. The majority of the set is dedicated to the '80s and '90s, the mix showcasing more of Loud's talented scratching skills and hot live cue sampling. A big screen behind him shows music videos that match all of the percussive interludes. The crowd applauds Loud's efforts.

It's interesting to see the slow evolution of pop music over half a decade — it almost feels like a music history lesson. Over two-and-a-half hours of nonstop tunes, we finally reach the year 2016 in the early hours of the morning. Loud dubs this year 'the year of Flume', before finishing with Hey Jude.