The UK electronic duo Maribou State made their long-awaited return to Australian shores in their first of two early-week Sydney shows, gracing the Enmore Theatre with their lush, evocative soundscapes. With a setlist that dipped into their signature blend of organic instrumentation and deep, layered beats, the show proved to be both a technical masterclass and a resounding and rousing experience.

From the first pulsing moments of Nervous Tics, the crowd was submerged in a world where the synthetic and the natural collide to create something wholly transportive. The track’s simmering energy set the stage for a performance that moved between moments of quiet introspection and euphoric release.

Otherside followed, ushering in a sense of dreamlike melancholy before Beginner’s Luck arrived with its delicate, almost skittish instrumentation, the sonic equivalent of woodland creatures darting between trees in a dusky glow. That iconic Maribou State sound, at once intimate and expansive, filled the Enmore’s cavernous space, enveloping the audience in its warm embrace.

The visual component of the show was no afterthought, with lighting that painted the music in vibrant hues. During Bloom, as the duo and their accompanying live bandmates tightened up their groove, streaks of crimson and vermillion lit the stage, bouncing off a crowd that moved in hypnotic unison. The track, already a fan favourite, was made even more dynamic in the live setting, each element slotting together with the kind of precision that only comes from years of craft-honing.

Holly Walker’s presence throughout the night elevated the performance to something truly special. Moving in and out of the set like a spectral yet commanding figure, she lent her signature smoky vocals to many songs, including Kingdom and Glasshouses. The latter saw couples swaying together, lost in its delicate yearning, an evocative snapshot of those first enamoured encounters, the sultry red stage lights deepening the tenderness of the moment.

The atmosphere shifted as All I Need rolled in, a song imbued with nostalgia and a warmth that spread through the crowd like the comforting aroma of late-night chips. By the time Steal kicked in, triangle in hand, phones lighting up the room like fireflies, the audience had fully given themselves over to the night. Uplifting yet edged with melancholy, it pulled us from the mundane drudgery of a Monday night and delivered us somewhere shimmering and untouchable.

From the slow burn of Vale to the kinetic energy of Kāma, Dance On The World and Rituals, the show was a well-paced sonic celebration. The Hertfordshire heroes understand tension and release like few others, knowing precisely when to hold back and when to let a track unfurl into something grand and sweeping. The Clown and Midas provided further highlights, the crowd hanging onto every note, lost in the heady swirl of rhythm and texture.

As Turnmills brought the main set to a close, there was a tangible sense of collective euphoria in the room. But Maribou State had one last gift for us, a shimmering encore of Blackoak, which sent the night spiralling into its final, beautiful descent. With its intricate layering and cinematic scope, the song felt like a perfect farewell, leaving the crowd suspended in that post-show glow where time feels briefly irrelevant.

Maribou State's music has always had a rare, alchemical quality, an ability to feel both deeply personal and infinitely expansive. Tonight at the Enmore, they reminded us of this power, delivering a performance that was as cerebral as it was visceral, as technically masterful as it was emotionally stirring.