Live Review: Art Vs Science, Kilter

Warming up the crowd is fellow Sydneysider Kilter, who brings tropical beats with a shirt to match. The 20-year-old chillwave DJ moves like the next Flume as he samples songs and loops beats. His one distinguishable feature is a Caribbean touch, thanks to steel drums and his own drumming skills, which are showcased throughout new single Shadow Boxer, without which there wouldn't be much evidence of growth since his 2012 EP, Forever Ago.

The curtains open to reveal Art Vs Science and the trio are decked out in matching,'80s-inspired pink outfits with a Bowie feel. It's an image Jim Finn, Dan McNamee and Dan Williams can pull off with their eccentric performance style and they kick off with latest single Create//Destroy. With Jane Fonda-esque enthusiasm, frontman Dan Mac calls upon the crowd to clap their hands during what feels like a live music-soundtracked aerobics session, and they keep the workout going with fan-favourite A.I.M. Fire!.

Touring the country for the launch of their latest Create/Destroy EP, AVS are back after a two-year hiatus, bringing more of the same high-energy live performances and similar musical sounds. Dan Mac builds suspense with an eerie intro – part-The Mighty Boosh, part-mad scientist – building up before cracking into Magic Fountain, the single that made it into the top ten of triple j's Hottest 100 back in 2010. They delve into a DJ break that's reminiscent of The Chemical Brothers' Hey Boy Hey Girl for their own Creature Of The Night before the magic of their performance drowns With Thoughts – a dull lull in the escapades of the trio. Realising that our energy's dying, Dan Mac pulls the “party time” card and uses his best Play School-presenter-on-crack impersonation to get hands moving with Flippers, reverting to a default I'm A Little Teapot pose and the occasional synchronised fists in the air together with Finn.

Art Vs Science are energetic and overtly physical in their playing style: Williams wags his tongue as he drums, Finn pulls power poses and McNamee whips out an electric guitar to solo during Parlez-Vous Francais? in what becomes a glam-rock revival. Finishing up with Hollywood, AVS take a bow and exit stage left as the curtain falls. These guys are musically talented and put on a good live show, but their music just doesn't deliver enough to inspire awe at a gig like it does at a festival.