Live Review: Flume, Vince Staples, Sophie

Perth Arena was packed with revellers excited to catch a glimpse of multiple ARIA Award-winning Flume. It was an explosive night that exceeded expectations - from the impressive light effects to the crisp, electronic samples; the crowd was left dumbfounded by a sense of shock and awe.

Sophie (from the UK) smashed out a crisp set, laying down delicious, intrepid rhythms any youngblood could rave to. Turning Perth Arena into the mecca for rinsers far and wide, Sophie played with impressive dexterity.

American rap artist Vince Staples threw some well-crafted hip hop into the mix, drawing out tunes from a very dank place. Traipsing around the stage and throwing rhymes into the air, if emerging into the stadium for a rave wasn't enough then an MC battle surely satisfied!

Peak hype was reached when Flume's set came around. Opening up with burgeoning, ominous sounds, Flume was concealed behind a scrim. His silhouette teased us. The scrim finally dropped. Punters welcomed an ecstatic explosion of sound and light. Flume coolly greeted the crowd, not even phased by the supernova-like lights or burgeoning arena eyeing him up. Props to the production and lighting designer/s who elevated Flume's music from just a selection of club tunes to an explosive diorama of electronica and visuals.

Playing both old and new tracks to keep the fans happy, killer vibes were brought when Kucka and Vince Staples teamed up for Smoke & Retribution. From the high-paced eclectic notions felt from tracks off his latest album Skin through to older tracks like Sleepless, Flume achieved a well-articulated balance. Dances on display included waving your arms like a jaded, psychedelic hippy or dabbing yourself into a coma.

After set's close, there was a lengthy wait for an encore. Some punters even left. Either Flume was genuinely cheeky or just a massive troll, but those who stayed were rewarded with a spectacular prize. Finishing up with You & Me and Tiny Cities, his performance ended in a burst of golden confetti. Flume left the punters dazed by this golden shimmer and trying to comprehend the talent they'd just witnessed.