It’s hard to imagine a more appropriate setting for Snakadaktal than the Forum Theatre. With spacious yet intimate interiors that amplify the vocal assets of the up and coming five-piece, the renowned venue fittingly observed night two of the Sleep In The Water national tour.
Having quickly manufactured a strong reputation on the back of debut EP Snakadaktal, and lead singles “Chimera” and “Air”, the Melbourne-based Unearthed High winners showcased an encouraging performance of dream pop infusions rich in blissful complexity.
With an already enticing catalogue of minimalistic arrangements, it was no surprise that punters slowly but surely crammed the floor as indie folk rockers Velma Grove opened the evening.
Through an active vocal range evocative of Jordan Ireland from The Middle East and with diverse sounds finalised by banjo, violin, harmonica, horn, and cornet, the eight-piece delivered an outstanding set of elaborate melodies and entangled instrumentals from debut EP Older.
Up next were the smooth, beat-driven tunes of Blue Mountains dance/rap project Fishing, and while the upbeat duo recently performed at Splendour In The Grass, they took time to settle in a jaded display that steadily improved after beginning lethargically.
As Snakadaktal then confidently took to the stage, they were warmly received by an eager home town crowd intent on good times.
Opening strongly with promotional single “Hung On Tight”, the humble yet extensive vocals of Sean Heathcliff were introduced, while follow-up and fan-favourite “Air” showcased the assertive and assured chords of Phoebe Cockburn.
As the band then steadily progressed through an engaging assortment of recently released material from debut album Sleep In The Water, the pleasant harmony of the performance was refined.
Combining dreamscape elements with traditional strumming, the set was punctuated by acoustic versatility on “The Sun II” and “Union”, while “Fall Underneath” and “East Of Here” were quicker tracks that reaffirmed the band’s instrumental prowess.
Despite the occasional and unfortunate ‘snap’ by Barna Nemeth on drums, cohesion was profound, with urbane instrumentals and polished melodies that eloquently accentuated the entire performance.
As Heathcliff and Cockburn expertly alternated between vocal duties in a highly mature and composed manner, interplay between Joseph Clough on guitar and Jarrah McCarthy-Smith on bass was immense.
Incorporating patient chillwave vibes with gleaming textures, “Feel The Ocean Hold Me Under”, “Too Soon”, and, “Dance Bear” were further highlights, with the latter particularly suggestive of Loon Lake and The Jungle Giants.
Though while the performance remained clean and sophisticated, it slowly stalled as the evening progressed. While songs maintained their subtle qualities and melodious attraction, several passed by with minimal fuss – and while 18 tracks are credible for such an inexperienced band, they lacked the variation and changeability necessary to persistently engage the crowd.
Thankfully, final efforts were reserved for an expert cover of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs’ “Garden” and the composed yet surprisingly volatile closer “Sleep”.
Showing no signs of the vulnerability that accompanied previous tours, the band departed graciously to generous applause, having delivered an auspicious performance that once again reaffirmed the promise and prospective of the dream pop five-piece.
Indeed, with a little fine-tuning in set composition and song structure, Snakadaktal may become an absorbing live act that demands approval. For the time being however, and with no disrespect, they deliver a highly polished performance that impressively reveals the many talents of the youthful group.
Setlist
1) Hung On Tight
2) Air
3) Isolate
4) Ghost
5) Feel The Ocean Hold Me Under
6) Too Soon
7) The Sun I
8) The Sun II
9) Union (Remix)
10) Union
11) Fall Underneath
12) East of Here
13) Wake Up Interlude
14) Deep
15) Chimera
16) Dance Bear
17) Garden (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs cover)
18) Sleep
