Talk about a scorcher! But the grey-and-white-flecked Auckland sky, and city landscape, was the perfect backdrop for what proved to be a full day of hot new music.
EMA
First to play was American songwriter EMA (Erika M. Anderson). Some dirty grunge with a distinctly industrial motion to it, her music manages to balance the strong frontwoman (kinda Karen O, and a bit of Bjork - think the demanding vocals in Army of Me), with grinding guitars and sledge-hammer percussion. I really got into the live set, but I've only found a few tracks that have permanent homes in my library.
Cults
Next up were Cults! Continuing the gothic vibe, but injecting a bit of rock'n'roll, Cults manage to broach subjects like death and violence in a sugary, organ-infused coat of tinkly percussion and child-like vocals. Love it!
Glasser
We snuck away to the Park Lane stage to check out Glasser at this point and were grateful to catch even the smallest amount of her set. I remember hearing Apply a little while ago and loving the combination of lo-fi and tribal sounds. It was great to see Cameron Mesirow (along with a bearded and bespectacled sidekick), belting it out right next to the sparkling blue water of the viaduct.
Laura Marling
In all their motherland glory, Laura Marling and band took the stage next, armed to the teeth with mandolins, banjos, acoustic guitars and a double-bass. I just can't say enough about Marling; it might be my soft spot for a bit of British melancholy, or just my huge respect for her skill with words. No matter how hard you try you just can't resent her for being so damn young and talented.
Okay, so at this point we got a bit hungry and missed a bit...but back to the music!
Twin Shadow
Twin Shadow were the first of the dreamy and washy acts of the night, but they're definitely on the Talking Heads/New Order side of the road with their creative bass lines, synths and reverb-laden tom hits.
The Horrors
Quality British garage rock with some shoegaze thrown in for good measure. Although seeming to hang loosely from their instruments, they owned the stage and the crowd, filling Silo park with swayable psychedelia.
Toro Y Moi
I missed this set! :( But I'll still show you some goods. The coolest guy to wear a red beanie since Steve Zissou (and for that matter, to wear a red sweater since Bill Cosby).
SBTRKT
So as the sun went down the appreciative audience at the Park Lane stage got in some quality dance-time. We were treated to the brilliant Wildfire (unfortunately only supported by samples of the lovely Little Dragon), and the equally impressive Right Thing To Do amongst others. Great set overall - there's something overwhelming about the swelling bass reverberating amongst the silos.
Washed Out
I've made my love for these guys well known, but yes, this was one of my favourite sets of the festival. It was just so damn chilled.
Feist
What a stellar performer! Leslie Feist, even when presented with the technical difficulty of a faulty mic, kept the band comping while singing and dancing in silence. When it was fixed she sidled right back into the song, How Come You Never Go There, as though nothing happened.
M83
The penultimate dreamy-washy act of the night. It just seemed like they got stronger and stronger with each song, using each and every bit of technology that had onstage to whirl the crowd into a dancing frenzy. By the time they hit their massive single Midnight City, we were all in the palm of their hands.
Gotye
It's interesting as an Aussie in New Zealand seeing the reception Gotye's received here. I remember first hearing his music on the radio in 2006 and I've followed his music ever since. The release of Somebody That I Used To Know has exploded him onto the world stage (definitely well-deserved), but his earlier music is still not well known by the average Kiwi. Much of his set was taken from his latest album, Making Mirrors, including the hilarious State of the Art but I was thrilled to hear some of his older hits, including Hearts A Mess and Thanks For Your Time, adapted for his touring band. Brilliant! Let's go right back to the beginning, though, with Out Here In The Cold.
