Del The Funky Homosapien,Bukue-One, 1/6, Syntax @TheEspy, Melbourne (22/07/2011)

Sun 24th Jul, 2011 in Gig Reviews

On a freezing cold night like Thursday, where the bane of public transport users- the wet and the wind- sets in for the long haul, it’s more than a little frustrating for there to be a four hour wait between doors opening and the headliner taking the stage. It’s a long stretch from eight until midnight for anyone, regardless of how good or plentiful the supports are.

First up is Syntax, a Gold Coast MC who at his best reminds of the lyrical style of Jedi Mind Tricks, minus the paranoia and religious fervor. This results in a catchy yet slightly hollow set, something particularly evident when he decides to go a cappella. He lacks the charisma required to hold sway of the early attendees, too often relying on dropping F-Bombs or shouting the name of the headliner. It’s at these points where Syntax drops into what has become somewhat typical of Aussie Hip-Hop post Hilltop Hoods; whinny vocals that only ever vary in tone very slightly and an over emphasis on their laconic locality.

1/6, on the other hand, serves as a pleasing antidote to this. Sure he’s from the same locale, but his rhymes are universal and while he doesn’t shy away from slipping in lines about the public transport system, it doesn’t come off as forced. He’s charismatic too, holding sway over the crowd, dancing loosely to his DJ’s down-tempo beats and shaking his mic from side to side. A much more natural flow exudes from both his rhymes and presence on stage.

Bukue-One from California is again something very different, mixing faux jamaican accents with a fascination for street culture; charisma more than talent pulling him through the set. His vocals are flat and often rely on speed rather than tone, however his onstage chemistry with his whiter than though DJ makes for entertaining viewing, as does everything from skateboarding onstage to encouraging the crowd to make their best sexy faces.

When Del The Funky Homosapien finally takes the stage, the largely disinterested crowd finally fills in and excitement begins to build. Bukue and his DJ remain as Del’s backing crew, opening with Hieroglyphics track At the Helm. Del maintains a sense of cool all of his own; rocking out in a golf cap and Ray Bans, his demeanour is reflected in his vocal style with his distinctive bassy drawl.

19 years after his last visit to Australia and there is no doubt that Del has improved and expanded his repertoire exponentially. Early fare like Catch a Bad One and Dr. Bombay hold up just as well as newer, more experimental works though. Everything seems to stem from a reverence for 70’s funk; Del even giving a shout out to Parliament and Funkadelic at one point. It was obvious from the outset that Mistadobalina was going to be a hit with the audience, but more surprising was the level of response directed at his futuristic experimentations in Deltron 3030, with 3030 and Virus pushing his penchant for science fiction futurism.

Other highlights included Phony Phranchise, Eye Examination and Thank Youse, while the set’s only let down proved the drawn out freestyling between Del and Bukue; both of whom frankly just weren’t as impressive as they should be. More impressive was an instrumental track where Del played about with a synth box, deviating from the usual rap aesthetic.

Foot Down, Get it Right Now and Love is Worth kept the groove pumping with just enough space to feasibly dance on the floor. The night’s real high point, however, was If You Must, which came off like an ironic kids song, with Del and crew miming actions to ‘wash your ass’, ‘brush your teeth’, and ‘wash your hair,’ prompting the crowd in turn to humorously imitate. Although an encore wasn’t on the cards, the night closed satisfyingly enough with Gorillaz collaboration track Clint Eastwood.