Live Review: The Kite String Tangle, Kilter, Tincture

The Kite String Tangle

Kicking off the night, Tincture brings a solid mix of down-tempo electronica. The quality of the music is high, as ever, and the EP can't drop soon enough. A cover of Frank Ocean's Swim Good is a brave choice, and while Luke Dalton's vocals aren't going to match up to Ocean's anytime soon, he's clearly becoming more comfortable as a singer, and the beats are intricate and the production nicely constructed. A new track towards the end of the set sees Tincture exploring a heavier palette, pulsing bass and chittering hats that get a few brave souls moving early.

The crowd has swelled by the time Kilter begins, and is beginning to cluster around the stage, but there's not a whole lot of dancing going on despite some pretty decent beats. Ned East plays the rhythm sections of his tracks with drumsticks on pads, triggering samples with some very active live drumming. Between this and bursts of enthusiastic dancing, there's an engaging physical component to the performance. The music is heavily tropical, with Calypso beats throughout the tracks, and while the consistency and reliance on remixes gets a little old, it's still a high quality and energetic set.

The Kite String Tangle's Danny Harley is no stranger to success with his other project, Pigeon, but it looks like his solo work is bringing him to new levels as his first major solo tour has sold out across the country on the back of the massively popular single Given The Chance, a remarkable feat for a local artist. Previous tours with Pigeon are paying dividends here, and Harley looks polished and at ease behind a large array of keyboards, mixers and pads, flicking cleanly and with purpose between the various instruments. The lighting is a highlight tonight, well choreographed and novel, making use of the act's own gear in addition to the venue's. Harley is a skilled frontman, his voice clean and emotive, and he manages to connect to the audience despite the busy job of running a show alone. Luke Cuerel (from Pigeon) appears on sax to close out a track – a special Brisbane-only addition – and receives an appreciative round of applause from Harley and the crowd. A cover of Lorde's Tennis Court is well handled, and while it adds little to the original, it's nicely timed to give the audience a touchstone amidst the few other recognisable singles.

The crowd reaction is excited throughout the show, but it's nothing compared to the final track. Within the first few notes of Given The Chance, cheers have buried the music, as the audience raise their hands in excitement and begin to sing along. A pitch-perfect performance from Harley, and likely the start of many more sell out tours to come.