Olympia, Naomi Keyte, Sarah Belkner and Poly Low
The Producers Bar, Saturday 11th June, 2016
Winter may have just invaded Australia but it certainly has not dampened the spirits of our nation’s finest musicians’ one iota. Remarkably, almost every prominent venue in Adelaide had a sizeable event booked for our last icy Saturday evening. However, in retrospect, one of the best providers of warmth is unbridled talent.
Local quintet Poly Low had the appointment of opening for the growing audience and their soulful jazz-inclined lounge soundtrack was very accomplished. Channelling Sarah Blasko’s lighter moments, this five-piece added extra dimensions to their recipe with the inclusion of a violin, cello, ukulele as members changed their roles with whatever instrument they could find. It was a rather marvellous display that silenced a captivated crowd and a flawless start into what was going to be an exceptional night.
Adelaide’s Naomi Keyte followed. Her style employed a more “severe” folk formula which rendered elements of Chelsea Wolfe’s stunning ‘Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs’ album. Naomi and her band develop a smoky dark haze with their spiritual modern folk music with the songs performed from her ‘Edge Of The Morning’ EP transporting onlookers into a comforting gloomy dimness that was elegantly inescapable. Similar to being enveloped by a dense blanket, it may have at times bordered on unsettling; but possessed plenty of soothing warmth also.
Sydney’s Sarah Belkner was possibly the most left of centre act to perform on this night, but this was in no way a negative – quite the opposite. It was a refreshing, intimate and sensual change of pace which to be honest was somewhat called for to boost the energy of the show. Self-described as an Alternative Chamber Pop musician, there are elements of The Real Tuesday Weld with Sarah’s art, but with a slight injection of Bjork and a hint of Jeff Buckley, although that stretch can only be made if Ms.Belkner is considered his long lost sister and was raised by Xiu Xiu. That undoubtedly reads as a peculiar combination, but while her eccentricity is hard to pin down it is also her strength. With You and new single Time were the highlights.
Melbourne’s Olympia’s gorgeous presence was emphasised by a stunning shiny one-piece suit. The audience celebrated her appearance and quickly she starting to take the room on a journey with her with that stellar voice she harnesses as our guide. Her show was oddly hypnotic; she possesses a magnetism that is impossible to overlook. Where Olivia Bartley truly shines is with her interaction not only with her live show, it also transpires with the conversations she has with her crowd. It becomes a relationship of openness and exposure, with a warming sense of humour. Obviously the set-list revolved around her brilliant debut full-length ‘Self Talk’, but how Ms. Bartley used her talent and imagination to portray these songs in a live setting is what really stood out. Changing from guitar to piano effortlessly and somehow managing to manipulate her commanding voice to suit each track was a phenomenon in itself. Thankfully Adelaide will be able to experience this again in only a couple of months.
Review by Will Oakeshott.
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