Koi ChildLocal electronica producer Lower Spectrum acted as guest curator for the third evening at the PS Art Space as part of the Hidden Treasures festival. Like previous shows, the selection of acts was eclectic. An earlier than usual start saw Lower Spectrum laying down a simple set of headphone style electronica. The quiet skittering beats provided a soundtrack for the few early fans.
Just as the set was finishing, a large group of women, all in matching black outfits with purple scarves entered the venue. This was the Fremantle Women's Choir. The DJ console was quickly removed and the ladies assembled on stage to offer "a change from the disco you were listening to". An interesting set of choral standards, gospel hymns and pop arrangements followed. Unfortunately due to a technical issue, only the group's piano accompaniment was played through the PA, so for those who weren't standing close to the stage little of the set could be heard and as a result the majority of the crowd stood around talking.
Leon Osborne was up next with a laptop and controller set. Starting with some heavily glitched futuristic beats, this quickly morphed into a sub-heavy mix of garage and bass music. By this point in the night, the crowd had swollen to fill the large cavernous warehouse space and the dance floor finally started to move.
The nu-jazz/hip hop collective, Koi Child, took to the stage next. For a new band, they showed a high level of confidence by playing a set that straddled multiple styles and genres. MC Shannon Cruz Patterson provided a flow very reminiscent of early '90s conscious hip hop, but with a decidedly Aussie bent. Mixing a rapid flow with beat-boxing and scat rhythms, a band consisting of bass, drums and keys as well as a three-piece horn section backed him.
The final act for the night was a DJ set from Catlips, now signed to local label Pilerats. The set was peppered with tracks ranging from acid house to big beat, all obvious influences on her own releases. Although Katie Campbell is not a hugely technical DJ (there were the occasional trainwrecks between tracks), the set did provide a nice selection, ranging from up to the minute releases all the way back to classic '80s house tracks.
