A busy Workers Club was treated to a Saturday night filled with some of Australia’s most promising up-and-coming alternative electronic acts, with Melbourne’s own I’lls playing before Sydney-based producer Elizabeth Rose took to the stage.
I’lls’ music is just about as hard to pin down as their name is to pronounce (like ‘aisles’ in case you were wondering). Creating atmospheric, minimal and layered sounds, the mesmerizing product soothes the slowly growing crowd.
Led by Simon Lam’s intimate vocals, the four-piece introduce a handful of new songs that will be appearing on next year’s sophomore EP. Stand-out track and set-closer ‘When I Know’ sees Lam trade the electronics for drums, ending the set in an explosion of noise that leaves the crowd more than ready for the headline act.
Elizabeth Rose strides onto the small Workers’ stage with little fanfare, and brings a seamless set of electronic music. In town to launch her debut EP Crystallise, Rose launches into tracks from the new release that blend into a cohesive, upbeat and irresistible whole.
Rose cuts a solitary, pint-sized figure on stage, surrounded only by a laptop, synth, and various electronic equipment. However, a lack of stature is more than made up for with her impossible to resist electro-pop sounds that have been making waves recently within the Australian scene.
A remix of Flight Facilities’ ‘Foreign Language’ early in the set shows the emotion that is contained in Rose’s vocals, with lines like “I can’t let you go / you won’t let me know” delivered in a vulnerable and intricate nature.
Throughout the set, Rose is deeply immersed in the textured music that she is creating, moving almost mechanically along with the beat while masterfully commanding the synth or any other of the electronic equipment around her, sometimes at the same time.
Debut single ‘Ready’ proves to be a stand-out, showcasing the singer’s soaring, powerful vocals along with undeniably infectious, poppy melodies.
Filled with tribal chants, driving percussion and surreal synths, the song has been making the rounds since its release early this year, and it translates perfectly to the live scene, a dance-floor ready, textured song that gloriously displays Rose’s abundance of talent in one wonderful moment.
Rose seems as if she is in her own world while playing, often dancing as if no-one’s watching, while also inviting the audience into this surreal audioscape, with the packed crowd swaying to the music as if in a trance.
Banter with the crowd is few and far between, and this seems entirely appropriate in order to maintain the enchanting atmosphere that fills the room. When Rose does speak, she seems humbled and grateful for the impressive turnout, stating simply “It’s a very special night for me.”
The new single from the EP, ‘Again’ (a collaboration with renowned UK producer Sinden) closes the night. The bass-heavy, infectiously catchy track shows just what the young lady from Sydney is capable of, and clearly outlines the very bright future that is ahead of Elizabeth Rose.
