Angus and Julia Stone got together (in a musical sense) in 2006 in Sydney. Since then, they've
brought a touch of
southern hemisphere magic to these curious shores. And as a result, their bright and
moving music tonight summoned a diverse and excited audience.
They are a curious couple. Julia
is a well-mannered maiden in a vibrant red dress, Angus a typically laconic fella in black and
white. They launch into their set and when there voices intertwine they seem more inseparable then
mere siblings. They are more
akin to spirits, ethereal wonderful sprites of song. The decorated set adds to the whimsical,
folksy, magic of the midsummer dreaming. Chintz sits next to and under foliage and cartoons
characters and the starry backdrop creates an unusual and mystic atmosphere.
She has a
babyish quality to her voice. Somehow it is as if the adult voice is only creeping and peeping out
of a child. But the harmonies are deep, resonating and affecting. Julia shows herself to be the more emotive and open one but the vocal
verging and merging vulnerability is a striking feature when both of them perform.
Paper
Aeroplanes, The Beast, Mango Tree and Private Lawn predictably take precedence in a list of
highlights. They throw in flushes and flairs of Spanish guitar, bass and when Julia takes up the
trumpet with a tone that touches on a more Latin morna style there is a new found glimmer of
delighted grins in the audience. Half way through he's playing some classic rock guitar while she is
on keyboard. Julia bowls us over with her dark dramatic side showing that when she lets rip and
exposes the true size of the full voice she is a star.
The intimate feel of the gig is on par with eavesdropping alone at
rehearsal or just kicking out with a few friends and the band. Introductions to the songs are made
personal by their tender nods to their manager, birthdays and back-stories where they apply. Julia
sings a brand new love song called For You, for a brand new little beau. Through this and Wasted the
silent audience are totally engaged to the point where they forget to get digital happy on their
camera-phones.
Other highlights included a snippet of a Culture Beat cover Mister
Vain, and somehow, managing to meld Barbaranne by the Beach Boys and Joy Division's Transmission. The
final track is a pounding, multi percussion, tripping, trickling effort. They manage to take the
audience on a trip to nostalgic summer trips and love affairs.
Maybe it's just the weather
but I'm glad to indulge in the fantasy a while. The multi instrumentalists will continue their
European tour before returning to Australia for the rest of the summer. If only they had stayed for
the festival season we would have been truly blessed.
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