There’s probably never been so much synthetic smoke billowing from the doors of the Corner Hotel on a Wednesday night. As Seekae took to the stage ahead of a generously filled out room, the blue neon glow and dry ice ridden haze seemed all too appropriate.
An already enthralled crowd were immediately greeted first rather modestly by customary salutations, and then by a wall of squelching, acid synth textures with the band delving straight into the unreleased but immensely popular ‘Yech’.
Anyone who has been a long time follower of the Sydney trio would know that their music was somewhat bereft of vocal intonations when they first began releasing music. Hearing Alex Cameron sing, one comes to wonder why in god’s name it took so long for him to bless us with his vocal sentiments. The guy can sing! His vocal capabilities adding perfectly to Seekae’s already complex and heavily layered sound.
From the moment the band began producing their immense soundscapes it became exceptionally difficult to properly gauge the control and immersion this band manages to swathe over their fans.
It’s also phenomenal considering the complexity and depth of sound that projects from a stage featuring only three musicians, who are constantly clicking samplers and twisting knobs, which only serves to affirm the coherency and preparedness of the group when approaching the show.
If you’re hoping for strong visual arrays, stage semantics and the ever-impressive rock star banter, then Seekae will disappoint you almost immediately. But that’s only because all of these things are not characteristic of the phenomenal trio.
There are no stage antics, because every member is so undeniably focussed on the array of synthesizers, samplers and mixers aligned in front of them. There is no real stage banter; it would interrupt the calm, ambient immersion that descends upon the crowd amidst their cascade of dreamy, aural delights.
Any visual assistance (a few stage lights and that constant synthetic smoke screen) do nothing to overshadow the complex and enthralling projection of sound and scope achieved by the band throughout the course of their set.
Enthralling would be the most effective way to capture the mood amidst the assembled fans. Dancing was reserved to a listless sway, with most opting to simply absorb and stare, with a handful even listening, eyes closed; allowing themselves to be consumed by the sonic landscape rendered before them.
Throughout the course of their hour-long set, to hear a voice or a whisper during any of the songs would have been blasphemy, and apart from a constant and well-voiced appreciation at the conclusion of each track, not a word was spoken over the music at any point.
Seekae seem to be modestly but effectively treading the same path as bands like Cut Copy and Empire Of The Sun, who have staked a claim to the electronic music scene and carried the flag for Australia amidst the ever-growing swathes of European artists that seem to dominate the field.
Despite their continuing success, Seekae seem comfortable in maintaining their own unique branding on this ever-expanding genre, and their performance at The Corner Hotel stands as a testament to the strength of their own creativity.
– Morgan Benson
