Live Review: Live Transmission

If there is one act that embodies the spirit of Sydney's Vivid Festival, it's the Heritage Orchestra. Anyone who has been lucky enough to catch one of their performances over the week will testify to their ability to smash expectations and create an immersive audio and visual experience

This reputation for genre-bending makes the decision to tackle Joy Division's iconic back catalogue all the more interesting. As a fan, it's hard to imagine anyone else capturing the tightly-wound claustrophobia of their sound. Suffice to say however, the crowd did not leave disappointed.

This is largely due to the daring of the Heritage Orchestra. The performance is not simply a replay of Joy Division's albums – it's a complete re-imagination. The essence of the music is there, however the songs are not necessarily recognisable.

Instead, the orchestra has taken the defining elements of the band's iconic sound – the pulsating drums, driving rhythm and jaunty guitar – and stretched these into what are effectively nine short symphonies.

Ian Curtis' lyrics are largely non-existent with the exception of the closing track, Love Will Tear Us Apart. These are instead replaced with an imaginative digital display that plays on the themes of isolation and helplessness often found in Curtis' vocals. The projections, ranging from grim terrace blocks to a hand scribbling some of these original lyrics, interplay with the music and help make the show a completely immersive experience. 

As one of the legion of Joy Division fans, what was most impressive was the dedication the orchestra has shown to capturing the essence of the band without ever reverting to mere worship. Melodies jump between different sections of the orchestra, with instruments often playing rhythms you wouldn't expect. For 70 minutes the crowd is drawn into Joy Division's world, and no one wants to leave. More than anything the performance is a testament to the band's continuing legacy, and a recognition that great music doesn't have to live in the past: it can continue to move us in a myriad of new ways.