It is one thing to sell out your first headline gig down
under and it’s another to play to a room where you have the crowd’s full,
phone-free attention. Canadian duo Majical
Cloudz brought their Laneway 2016 set to the intimate Newtown
Social Club for what proved to be a reflection on sombre emotions dispersed
among witty one liners. The two donned their minimalist uniform (one in a white
t-shirt, the other in a black t-shirt) and minimalist setup (only a synth board
and mic on stage) for a show that was both soothing and confrontational.
But first, Sydney-based producer Anatole took
on support duties with a mesmerising audiovisual set that had the whole room
utterly focused, legs crossed and sitting down in silence. While kaleidoscopic
visuals revolved behind him, [created by his friend Rory], Anatole was turning
knobs and smiling as each layer built upon another in real time. His knack for
subtly increasing tempo and playing with adored and familiar tracks, including “Say
My Name” (eat your heart out, Cyril
Hahn), made for a dynamic set that would shut down the argument
of any purist who says that electronic production doesn’t move the heart
strings.
As soon as Majical Cloudz came to the stage they received a
huge cheer and their interaction with the audience was warm from the start.
Singer-songwriter Devon
Welsh maintained a melancholy blankness during his
performance, but cracked jokes in between tracks. Meanwhile, producer Matthew Otto almost
blended into the black curtains behind him as he made their records come to
life. Their minor melodies and poetic lyrics felt naked in the tight, dark
venue and unlike at a festival, we could hear Welsh’s every murmur (“Laneway
was fun, but this is better.”)
When the stage is almost at eye level with the crowd, it is
hard for a performer to cloud their intentions. It seems that the success of
Majical Cloudz lies in their rawness (Welsh howls at one point) and all-too
relatable lyrics (I’ll be honest/ I am afraid of love.) Although they showcased
their new release Are You Alone?,
the two finished their set with an old favourite, “Silver Rings”. In his
awkward, yet endearing manner, Welsh thanked us for laughing and noted, “It
would be good to play forever.”
Published on theAUReview.
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