Flight Facilities need no introduction, especially on the Australian indie electronic scene. However, after a lengthy stay in the hanger and prolonged taxiing on the runway, the duo have finally launched their highly anticipated and acclaimed debut album Down to Earth on the back of a sold out National Tour.

Flight Facilities have proven over the past five years the pure potential and drive the electronic duo contain, with the catchy mixture of electronica and disco music proving to be a hit.

After an impressive warm up from Melbourne locals Client Liaison, captain hats adorned Flight Facilities entered stage, their song ‘Intro’ preparing the venue for lift off. The bubbly and always exciting Owl Eyes really kicked the flight into gear however, delivering album favourite ‘Two Bodies’ much to the pleasure of the crowd.

What was truly refreshing about Flight Facilities set was the seamless control and ease the duo had over the set, merging songs together and transitioning through upbeat songs to slower moving serenades. Kurt Kristen made his first appearance with a rendition of ‘With You’ getting the crowd further warmed up for the exciting night ahead. Working in ‘Stand Still’, accompanied by its Wave Racer remix and ‘Why Do You Feel’, Flight Facilities showed no intention of slowing down the intensity.

The set twisted and turned, Flight Facilities letting both Owl Eyes and Kurt Kristen lead the performance, running on and off stage for their separate numbers yet doing so with immaculate flow and no break in the set. The set really hit its pinnacle midway through, with Owl Eyes vibrantly craving the entire crowd with ‘Crave You’. Even working in a sample from “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory that flowed into slow-burner ‘Claire du Lune’, the set kept you guessing.

It was Kurt Kristen’s job to bring the tempo up again with ‘Hold Me Down’ to warm up the crowd for their smash hit ‘Foreign Language’. It was here the party really started and the disco ball came out. To ease us into the end of the set ‘Down to Earth’ came as the easy segway into a fantastic finish to the set with ‘Sunshine’ being the icing on the already exceptional cake. The pure brilliance of ‘Sunshine’ would help cement what has already become what we can only describe as the Flight Facilities genre.

With a cheeky cover of John Paul Young’s ‘Love Is In the Air’ as an encore, it was a great way for the crowd to voice their appreciation for what had been a truly unforgettable night.

What has caused Flight Facilities to be such a hit internationally is the pure scope their discography covers. From party favourites like ‘Crave You’ and ‘Stand Still’ to the trancey ‘Claire du Lune’ and the funky ‘Sunshine’ featuring Reggie Watts, Flight Facilities mixture of electronica and disco caters to musical diversity.

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Many songs featured on Down to Earth came as unexpected yet pleasant surprises and represent the pure scope of what Flight Facilities are trying to accomplish. As was seen at their performance, letting Owl Eyes and Kurt Kristen run the show from centre stage, Flight Facilities are not burdened with an immaculate ego or arrogance, and it shines through with their music. The absence of such ego caters to their use of a plethora of featuring acts like Owl Eyes, Reggie Watts, Emma Louise and even an appearance by Australian legend Kylie Minogue.

The release of Down to Earth sets up Flight Facilities for enormous opportunities ahead. Their humbleness as well as obvious ease with working with artists from all genres and regions shows their openness to external influence and the different flavour that all their music has to offer.

Their ability not to be confined within a genre but to instead simply work with a sound and follow through with it is what is causing so much international appeal for the Sydney duo. Five years of touring, remixing and creating music without the release of an album shows the preparation and dedication to their debut album in pursuit of finding their perfect sound. Flight Facilities disregard the conventional boundaries of music making, simply pursuing the perfect sound leading them on a path few follow. Flight Facilities have escaped the confines that many electronics artists find themselves in, and have left the runway far behind.

Setlist

Intro
Two Bodies
I Didn’t Believe
With You
Stand Still
Get Free (Major Lazer Cover)
Waking Bliss
Why Do You Feel
Apollo
Crave You
Claire du Lune
Hold Me Down
Foreign Language
Heart Attack
Down to Earth
Sunshine

Encore
Love is in The Air

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