Lo-fi electronic duo Primitive Motion are first to command the stage tonight, and immediately instill intrigue with their unique style. Their melodies and instrumentation are simple when considered individually, yet when combined the soundscape becomes quite complex, with the echoing, wailing vocals from each band member adding that extra touch of resplendence. While Leighton Craig stays behind his synth, Sandra Selig switches between drum, saxophone and flute duties with admirable ease. The duo perform tracks from their debut LP Worlds Floating By including Skyline and Home Of The Lost Coast, yet it's the fun, quirky beat of I Am Elemental (2011) that really shines tonight.
Per Purpose are a band who take pride in their messy, dishevelled personas, both visually and sonically. The set begins with the furious, tinkering of frontman Glan Schenau's guitar strings, before they launch into their slurring, syncopated style of punk rock. There are a few technical hiccups along the way, and overall the guys fumble their way through the set without leaving too much of an impact. Yes, Schenau is determined in his delivery, yet the group seem to fall flat when compared to previous performances. Having said this, Reaction is a killer track and is always a pleasure to experience.
Representing Melbourne tonight is the synth-driven brain child of Evelyn Morris, Pikelet, who are launching their latest album Calluses. Morris takes off her shoes to use her pedals with a heightened dexterity, and it becomes mesmerising to watch her little feet in action throughout the set. Synth-man Shags Chamberlain also draws attention with his shiny, silver hotpants, which in execution could give Kylie Minogue a run for her money! Fashion aside, the way his fingers manically dance across his synth board is completely awe-inspiring. We're graced with the oh-so-smooth sounds of Projections early in the set, where the groovy bassline is reminiscent of the disco era and gets everybody moving. Following from Pressure Cooker and Friends is Festivas, where guitarist Tarquin Manek switches to clarinet. While the instrument echoes through the venue to enchanting effect, it becomes all the more impressive when Manek proceeds to pluck his bass at the same time, demonstrating that this is indeed one talented group of individuals. Further along drummer Matthew Cox lends part of his kit to Morris, who proceeds to bang the drum in a primal, jungle style before looping the beat for the track Combo. It takes two attempts to get this right, but the audience are so transfixed no one seems to care. It can only be hoped that the poor turn-out will not deter Pikelet from returning to Brisbane soon, as they have been nothing short of delightful.
