SAFIARunning Touch is a randomly named fella from Melbourne that creates dance music. Yeah, there's a few of them around. So what makes this guy worthy of Enmore Theatre's stage? His steady stream of releases have generated a buzz due to layered and innovative club beats that possess a little bit extra. His latest jam, Aubrey, is a certified banger; synth, beats and vocals really come together. However, his set-ending karaoke version of Killing In The Name? Now that's random.
Set Mo are well known in the Oz dance scene for remixing dance tracks (Wookie, Thief, Cassian), but it's their originals that will determine their ultimate success. They interspersed their OG stuff in between more well-known tracks from Disclosure, David Zowie and LDRU, and the set really stands up. Comfort You (ft Fractures) and latest single White Dress (ft Deutsch Duke) are both deeply techno, sexy and fun. Skilled producers? Yes. Live show connoisseurs? Keep working at it.
Success stories in the Australian music scene are starting to become commonplace, meaning it could have been easy to miss the rise and rise of Canberra-born trio Safia. Just 18 months ago, the band were in a much smaller venue around the corner as they developed their debut album and stage presence. Now, with Internal on the scene for around two months, their confidence appears to be skyrocketing.
It may have been staged for the photographers, but the confetti salvo in opener My Love Is Gone set the stage for a night of pure, unadulterated indie-dance-pop fun. Ben Woolner is fast becoming a formidable frontman as he prowls the stage in between his keyboard and bass duties, and just looks to be having so much damn fun. Almost the whole album is here plus old favourites such as the Peking Duk track featuring Safia, Take Me Over, but the songs are fuller and more fleshed-out than ever with some nifty little cover cameos including Stairway To Heaven and Feel Good Inc.
Set highlight, Go To Waste, saw Woolner at his crowd-darting best, while the sweet falsetto croon in Embracing Me was an emotional moment for all. We were treated to more confetti, more dancing and more smiles as Safia stepped up their game in this second sold-out Enmore show, wrapping up a hugely successful national tour.
