Cloud Control, Jinja Safari,Fishing @ Metro, Sydney(24/03/11)

Wed 30th Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The good thing about an all ages show is that a decent sized crowd is there for the support acts, and on this night it was particularly deserving by Sydney two-piece Fishing. A distinct lack of instruments, the opening act took to the staged armed with a Macbook Pro, a synth and an MPC; you’d be forgiven for assuming it was just another hipster duo disguised as a musical act. But Fishing, who are etching themselves into the next-big-thing category, were a surprise treat to watch.

Starting each track by creating a strong, crisp bassline, the two guys work off each other to gradually layer samples of horns, chimes and misty, distant vocals. Their overall sound has a nostalgic feel, and while the beats ensure you’re dancing, it’s easy to get swept away in a bit of a dream. This particular dream makes you feel like you’re lying on the beach on a summer afternoon one minute and living inside a computer game the next.

The highlight was single OOOO, a track where playful mixes shine without losing the kick of the beat. While there’s a fairly simple physicality to their live performance, the complexity of the tracks shows meticulous preparation – the use of a mic to create an impressive warped vocal loop convinced they can mix on the spot, just in case you weren’t sure if it was live.

Next up are ‘forest rock’ favourites, Jinja Safari. From the moment they step on stage, there’s an electric buzz in the room – they may have only formed a year ago, but word of their dynamic live presence and contagious energy has ensured they are a highly anticipated act.

Despite a few sound difficulties early on, they began with Forest Eyes, one of the catchier afro-pop tracks off their self-titled 2010 EP. By the second song, front man Marcus Azon had already climbed up two towers of speakers to engage in some air drums with the crowd – is it possible that they were even more animated than usual? Tracks like Vagabond showcase their surprisingly delicious mix of tribal drums and sweet vocal melodies with, of course, sporadic animal noises.

An extended instrumental during Stepping Stones felt like an improv jam session; rough around the edges and not overly polished, without losing any engagement with the crowd. The signature sitar of Pepa Knight arrived on stage for their upbeat single Peter Pan, which saw all of the instruments they had flirted with throughout the set, come together for a colourful finale. It was an apt moment for dancing like a jungle creature with a stranger next to you.

When Cloud Control initially appeared with a simple lay out and minimal visuals, there was a chance that the tone had been set too high by the energetic support acts. However, opening number Ghost Story put those worries to bed. Though it started with simple tambourine and soft, ghostly vocals, once it built up to the strong, urgent guitar and intense chorus, everyone was yelling along with frontman Alister Wright that they too felt the hair on the back of their necks rise up. No mistakes, the crowd were here for Cloud Control.

The cheerful This Is What I Said had everyone clapping and ‘yah yah’-ing along, and although the audio was again a bit patchy, with the keys and drums often dominating Wright’s guitar, it didn’t take away from the ambience of one of their lighter folk songs. The smooth interactions between Wright and Heidi Lenffer, who complement each other so perfectly in vocal harmonies, added to the delight of watching them play.

A few tracks were given a fresh spin, with Wright performing an acoustic rendition of My Fear #2 accompanied by Jeremy Kelshaw on tambourine and Lenffer on guitar. Although it was a lovely version of the song, the intimacy was perhaps lost on the now overly-energetic crowd. Popular single Gold Canary was also changed up, mashing into a rendition of Butthole Surfers’ Pepper, with the announcement that would be the last live performance of the remix.

The encore was saved, predictably but appropriately, for their standout track, There’s Nothing in The Water We Can’t Fight, wrapping up what was an excellent showcase of local talent.