Sherlock's Daughter @ OxfordArt Factory, Sydney (02/07/09)

Tue 7th Jul, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Peering through the shadows of Oxford Art Factory, all eyes are glued to Tanya Horo. Glittering in a silver sequin leotard and exuding playground enthusiasm, the Sherlock’s Daughter frontwoman is about to lead us all down the rabbit hole. The Sydney five-piece are currently pied-piping down the East Coast, as they build toward the August release of their EP.

Tonight, the mercurial Horo beams to her bandmates and audience alike. Her sparkling, bouncy form invites you to lose yourself, if only for a while, in a dizzying indie-pop dreamscape.

The intro of Kids gives way to a masterful hook, as Horo compulsively hand-claps and shimmies her way through the entire tune. She is possibly having the time of her life during the outstanding Long Way. As she plonks down next to guitarist Tim Maybury, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were part of a slumber party in indie-rock Neverland. That feeling is accentuated when I notice keyboardist Jonti Anima has started mixing backing effects manually through a Nintendo DS.

Song For Old People begins as a sandpit-jam, before maturing into an understated anthem with feet tapping and hands clapping throughout the audience. It’s clear the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is in full swing as (not content to just produce their upcoming debut release), Jono Ma of Lost Valentinos spontaneously jumps onstage to help perform this tune – armed only with a double bass bow and an electric guitar.

Sherlock’s Daughter are brimming with multi-instrumental talent, swapping instruments a number of times through the show. There’s an especially strong onstage dynamic between Horo and Maybury. My only suggestion to them would be to make sure the audience is allowed to share in their (sometimes) introspective onstage relationship.

A real find in this group is the uber-talented Will Russell, whose driving, kinetic rhythms team comfortably with Liam Flanagan’s bass. Russell works the drums in a frenetic trance; slapping the back, front, rim, skin and any other part of the kit possible. His technique gives the live performance added energy, further underlining the band’s musical chops.

The gig comes to a rapturous close and the audience reluctantly returns to reality. I’m consoled by the fact that upon the August release of their EP, I can jump back down the rabbit-hole with Sherlock’s Daughter any time I like.