Live Review: NO ZU, Grievous Bodily Calm

Coinciding with the first sign that winter's damp, gloomy grip may be loosening, the vibe at Mojo's for this gig was similarly positive.

Grievous Bodily Calm gave some indication of the mayhem that was to follow, with their soulful grooves getting the crowd pretty limber, but they always remained well in control. That's not to discount the utterly exuberant performance of keyboardist Josiah Padmanabham, however, whose whoops and gyrations were incongruous with the fairly sedate form of his bandmates. Trumpet embellishments lifted the tracks further and were deployed intelligently, never becoming an overbearing feature which reduced the rest of the band to filler. There was also great value to be derived from Grievous Bodily Calm's tight, proficient rhythm section.

Melbourne's NO ZU were decidedly more unhinged than Grievous Bodily Calm but that's not to suggest their performance was any less classy. While they may tap into tribal rhythms with reckless enthusiasm, there is a clear sense of purpose that always shines through. With tracks from 2016's Afterlife record drawing the greatest applause, appearing today as a ten-piece, the band members worked seamlessly together and each found their place in a very rich whole. The magnificent Raw Vis Vision is a case in point. As band general Nicolaas Oogjes directs from the side of the stage, the track shifts through varied phases before the group arrives together in a profound way, all instruments and voices colliding in the most uplifting, energetic finale. It is jubilant and utterly compelling, and reasonable to say that there are few other bands in the country who are quite so mesmerising. It was a performance which showed, once again, NO ZU are a band of unique quality.