Live Review: Nouvelle Vague, Lucy Peach

Delicious with an extra helping of heavenly creatures, that was Sunday's show in a nutshell. Perth local Lucy Peach was an absolute delight, enchanting us with every strum. Supported by John Brown on the drums, Luke Dux on the guitar, Tara John on the keys and Michael Savage on the bass, Peach serenaded the crowd. Each word candidly sung as if reciting a scribbled confession, Peach performed crowd favourite Be So Good and new single Bomb. Admitting that her creativity for Silver Tongue EP was captured while in a toilet, the soulful songwriter continued on, capturing the attention of the friendly-faced folk fans.

Without a word, Nouvelle Vague took to the stage, embraced by cheers. I Could Be Happy opened the show, rolling into New Order's Blue Monday and Love Comes In Spurts. Sultry sirens, Liset Alea, Elodie Frege and Melanie Pain led the captive audience through each intimate song, mesmerising us all, one by one. Accompanied by project founders Olivier Libaux and Marc Collin, the Parisian new-wave, post-punk outfit kept the interest level high as they rotated instruments and fiery frontwomen. Thudding bass had an intoxicating effect, like a celebration of rhythm at a private party on Percussion Island.

A sultry mix of covers and original compositions, the bossa nova crew flowed through new album additions, Ramones cover I Wanna Be Sedated and Brian Eno's No One Is Receiving, and old standards like Depeche Mode's Just Can't Get Enough. The audience drank in every word like an invisible serum. Smooth, soft, seductive and original, Algo Familiar fell seamlessly into place. As if the show wasn't disarming enough, Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself was powered with a charging beat, while The Cramps' Human Fly added a delicious darkness to the set.

The show was less of an art-driven performance than anticipated, but certainly delivered the elegance and collective creativity that Nouvelle Vague are renowned for. Joy Division classic Love Will Tear Us Apart was saved as an encore teaser, while In A Manner Of Speaking closed the musical component, leaving fans pleasantly spellbound and pining for more. Nouvelle Vague, there is no question: we all melt with you.