Live Review: Mount Kimbie, Oscar + Martin, Albatross - The Hi-Fi

Kicking off the start of an exciting line-up of electronic music delights was Sydney duo Albatross. While the early bird audience was a little scarce on the ground, the ambient beats kept those present captivated. The pair was impressively tight with their layering, cuts and drops; their bodies pulsing like pigeons to the slow and steady beats. Their hands wove a practised dance across an array of keys, knobs and pads, with the resulting creations the perfect dreamscape soundtrack.

In comparison, Oscar + Martin seemed a little more haphazard on stage, mixing vocals, guitar, bass and at times drums with their synthetic concoctions. The live elements certainly added an infectious energy, but it seemed occasionally they just didn't have enough hands and the elements didn't fuse as smoothly as they perhaps would in a recording. In saying that, their sound got tighter and tighter as the set progressed and a guest emcee added some quirky rhymes. Their voices blended nicely in close harmonies and their multitasking was impressive.

Having secured their fanbase with their electric 2011 Sydney debut, the venue was packed by the time Mount Kimbie took to the stage. Easing in with a cruisy beat, they built the sound with intricate rhythms, abstract layers and splashes of live instrumentation. The creation was seamless and intoxicating, the beats constantly morphing and shifting as they wove through the shadow lands of ambient to dubstep. The audience loved it and no one was standing still.

There was rarely a pause between songs as they mixed material from their debut album Crooks And Lovers with exciting new tracks that were just as heady. Mutual awe lit the faces of the audience as the spell was broken after a final encore, with a shared understanding that a bit of magic had just been experienced. The sky is the limit for this exciting and dynamic duo.