Sally Seltmann, Otoutu, Kyu @The Corner Hotel, Melbourne(10/07/2010)

Wed 14th Jul, 2010 in Gig Reviews

If Melbourne music followers were struggling to work out who this Sally Seltmann character is (she released her first two albums under the New Buffalo moniker) her effortless and touching performance at the Corner will undoubtedly etch her name in most punters’ minds and hearts. The former Melbourne chanteuse, who is perhaps better known as the co-writer of Feist’s 2007 smash hit 1, 2, 3, 4, produced a memorable set of refreshingly simple and melodious pop.

The rather eerie Sydney two-piece Kyu opened the night with a set that will certainly stay in the audience’s memory for longer than its 30- minute duration, and not just for the violent sound cut out towards the end.

Their atmospheric sounds, characterised by tribal drumming, Enya-like Celtic chanting, synths and, believe it or not, xylophones. In unison, the two girls created a powerful, minimalist sound that belied their youthful appearance.One of the measures of any gig is how much chatter goes on in the background, particularly during a warm-up act (when it is usually rife) but Kyu had the audience transfixed.

Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for the second band on the bill, Melbourne’s Otouto, who had to contend with conversations engulfing the Corner. Where Kyu were striking, eerie and a little unnerving, Otuoto’s set of abstract pop (which would surely make Pitchfork devotees swoon) was lifeless and disjointed.

The Sydney duo were always going to be a tough act to follow, but Otouto never managed to engage an uninterested crowd with their flat tunes. Thankfully, they found something resembling life two-thirds through their set with the bouncy Sushi. However, they ended with Spot, on which lead singer Hazel Brown somewhat ironically sang “where are you going to sleep”.

Seltmann quietly made her way on to stage wearing a bowler hat and elegant scarlet top to perform You Don’t Know Me Anymore, a bonus track from her third album, Heart That’s Pounding. Her band, which includes her husband and member of The Avalanches, Darren Seltmann on drums, then joined her on stage for the jaunty Set Me Free.

Heart That’s Pounding is a very optimistic and bright sounding record- much more so than her New Buffalo LPs – and Set Me Free illustrated that mood.
Like many of the songs she performed on the night, it belongs to another era of songwriting, when production was simpler and more refined, with vocals and lyrics the focal point. Seltmann’s songs sound like they could have been written by 60s pop icon Burt Bacharach. As daggy as Bacharach was, he is acknowledged as a supreme composer, and Seltmann has followed his theatrical lead, producing beautifully paced, affecting pop songs.

On the night, her breathy, sweet vocals and melodic, precise piano keys were the centre of almost every song, with the band complimenting her with subtle drums, guitars, bass, cello and violin.

The optimistic tenor of Seltmann’s songs was really captured with her performance of the first single from her new album, Harmony To My Heartbreat. One couldn’t help but smile when she effortlessly sang “when you hold me I can see this is exactly where I want to be, you’re the harmony to my heartbeat, baby”. Towards the end of her set, Seltmann repeated the dose with an uplifting rendition of the addictive On The Borderline. I dare anyone to listen to this song and not have it stuck in their head for three days.

Her songs are so endearing and produce narratives of loss, redemption and joy which anyone can relate to. Sure, she could be accused of being overly saccharine – I half expected an animated bluebird to appear whistling on her shoulder – but Seltmann’s songs really hit you in the heart and she thoroughly seduced the Corner crowd.

It wasn’t all raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, however, as there were moments of genuine darkness, such as the dramatic and sad piano ballad Misery and Mountains, Arrows and Bows from her second album, Somewhere, anywhere. From the same album, she also played the sombre I’m The Drunk and You’re the Star.

The melancholy mood never lasted long though, and Seltmann concluded her show on the same merry and inspiring note in which it began, with her latest single, Dream About Changing. On it, she repeatedly sang of being “a little bit shy”, but with performances like this, she won’t be staying shy for long and will hopefully be stepping out of the pop shadows sometime soon.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT HERE