Melbourne’s Corner Hotel was treated to three of the best examples of alternative electronic music that Australia has to offer, led by ex-pats PVT.
Locals I’lls began the night with a unique blend of atmospheric, expansive electronic music, including a handful of brand new tracks, as well as some off the brilliant Thread EP.
Standouts included ‘Higher Ground’ and set-closer ‘When I Know’, which saw vocalist Simon Lam intricately create a series of looped samples of his own voice, before retreating behind a drum kit to bring the set to an explosive and euphoric finish.
With DJ Tim Shiel keeping the crowd entertained, the set break passed in no time, and soon the always party-ready duo Collarbones were on stage.
Playing an infectiously fun and energetic set, frontman Marcus Whale was emotive and constantly moving with the music, while Travis Cook hunched over a laptop, handling all the electronic duties.
The set included the playful ‘Too Much’ and ‘Die Young’, and after receiving a very warm response from the now sizable crowd, Whale stated “that makes me feel more confident”, but the two-piece always seemed self-assured, making for a very polished live act.
After finishing with ‘Hypothermia’, the pair then entered the crowd, displaying some very impressive dance moves, before finally departing, ensuring the Corner was more than ready for the main act.
With four full-length albums under their belts, PVT now have a wealth of material, and the latest release, Homosapien, which this show was launching, slotted in seamlessly with the older songs.
The band, featuring brothers Richard and Laurence Pike (vocals/guitars and drums respectively) and Dave Miller (laptop and samples) created a huge and brooding sound for only three people.
Accompanied by an impressive light show, it was cinematic and atmospheric, and as much a visual experience as an aural one. PVT were constantly shrouded in smoke, and often just silhouettes amongst the flashing lights.
With Homosapien being PVT’s first album to feature Richard Pike’s singing to the foreground, allowing him to effortlessly assume frontman duties on tracks such as ‘Electric’ and the playful ‘Nightfall’, with the former incorporating an enthusiastic drum breakdown that included some well-timed cowbell.
Earlier discussions of the pronunciation of the band (pee-vee-tee VS pivot) were quickly put to bed by Richard Pike, saying “We are Pivot or PVT or whatever the fuck you want to call us. Let’s stick with Pivot tonight.”
Older tracks, from when the band’s days as a purely experimental, instrumental outfit, allowed all three members to display their vast talents and – along with the crowd – to become completely lost in the music.
Finishing the main set with the title track from their latest release, PVT were quick to return for a brief encore of the stand-out from Church With No Magic, ‘Window’.
While it is perhaps one of the more simple ‘pop’ songs that the band have written, it saw every element of their live show come together perfectly: the driving drumming, unique samples, strong, soaring vocals, long instrumental breaks, and intense lighting, and it all made perfect sense.
