Plenty of hype has been building for Sydney electro-rockers Strange Talk, especially with the imminent release of their new album coming out early in the new year.
Replicating the dancefloor vibe was going to be the key for the band to ensure the crowd having a good night out.
The four members made the most of the tight confines Ding Dong’s cramped stage, kicking off the set with a bang by opening with one of their strongest and catchiest songs in their back catalogue, “Eskimo Boy”. They followed it up with a new song off their upcoming debut album entitled “Another Day”.
Like all good Strange Talk tracks it was very synth and bass heavy, with a catchy chorus to boot.
An early highlight of the set came in the breakdown and solo part of one of the band’s earlier hits, “Is It Real” with the drums in the song being particularly impressive.
It took the spacey, driving synths of the first single off the new album, “Cast Away” to really bring the audience to life.
Additionally it was the first time vocalist Stephen Docker decided to make the most of his frontman swagger and get the crowd involved in some dutiful clapping. While Docker’s vocals were shaky at times the band’s lead man more than made up for it with his great stage presence.
“Sexual Lifestyle” is one of the band’s few songs with minimal synths, though with a great bassline and a catchy cowbell hook, the track doesn’t need it. They continued to showcase new material throughout the night in the form of a song entitled “So La La”.
The track had a killer opening drum beat reminiscent of Jay Z’s “Empire State Of Mind”, and like the NYC anthem it all hits a crescendo in the chorus. The lyrics are easily memorable and as revealed by Docker, the song will be the forthcoming single off the album.
“Falling In Love” with its rave style chorus has been making waves on radio and had everyone in the venue flailing their bodies when it all came to a head in the huge chorus. The tune would fit as seamlessly in Europe’s rave scene as it does in Melbourne’s Ding Dong Lounge.
The night ended with the glorious ‘oohing’ and ‘whoa-ing’ of “Climbing Walls” where the only people who failed to dance were those who didn’t have the coordination to hold their drink and boogie on down at the same time.
Strange Talk may only have a young history as a band but they’ve built a strong reputation on the live circuit and they proved that to the utmost with their show tonight. Their new material came off as strong as any of their older tunes, which bodes well for the release of the new record.
