Live Review: NO ZU

Bondi's Jam Gallery continues its campaign to usurp Hudson Ballroom's legacy as Sydney's premier low-ceiling dance haven. Melbourne party troupe NO ZU offered some compelling evidence in Jam Gallery's favour, playing a clammy set of woozy, 'shroom-induced disco for a crowd looking to sweat it out. Amid a dimly lit jungle of overhead vines and green lights underneath the Junction's streets, the group pounded out a feverish set, while everybody got lost in the miasma of hot odours filling the room. We all went a bit crazy for a couple of hours. It was primal and stanky, and it was fantastic.

Their brassy flourishes and primitive harmonies were bracing and invigorating, and the Latin percussion was hard to shake even if you were just walking to the bar for a drink. The lower end pulsed with pagan intensity and the whole thing felt drunk. There are a horde of cultural elements feeding into their sound, and everyone was really vibing on the orgiastic decadence. The fact that they played in a small room like Jam Gallery's made everything way more tangible than usual, with the gap between performer and punter erased. People were encouraged to join in, stepping up to add their own percussion.

What kept things from spilling over was the steady pace. The measured, Talking Heads-style march towards blissful oblivion kept people from revving too high too fast. Usually it's the recorded versions that boost focus and discipline, but on stage things slowed down by about ten percent. NO ZU milked each beat and chord stab as much as possible.

The only downside was the brevity of their show. We'll have to wait until next time to get the party going again. NO ZU? No problem!