Live Review: Orbital - The Tivoli

From a position often obscured by darkness on stage DJ Cosmo lays down a solid foundation of beats to stretch and warm the joints to. He doesn't hold a lot of presence but, in such a situation as this, one would imagine that his only mission is to establish the setting upon which the masters could prevail, and his set does succeed in doing this.

With the infamous looping of Time Becomes playing from a stage of roaming light-beams, the announcement of Orbital's arrival is communicated loud and clear. While it is a little sad to see that The Tivoli does not quite receive the level of attendance that is deserving of such legends, those that are present exert an enthusiastic outpouring that goes a fair way to creating the atmosphere of a fuller house. When Orbital last played Brisbane two years ago, as part of their reunion tour, it was a celebration in nostalgia that saw them run through a career-spanning, greatest hits variety of setlist. This time around they've come packing the heavy artillery of the brilliant new album Wonky, and are determined to assert themselves as a prevailing force of relevance within the current field. The duo don't beat around the bush, but rather explicitly lay out their mission statement by immediately flying headstrong into Wonky opener One Big Moment. Six diamond-shaped LED screens occupy the area around Orbital's busy setup, illuminating the stage with a vast spectacle of cosmic spheres and hallucinatory visuals that act as an intensifying extension of their wonderous sound. Paul and Phil share a passionate space on stage and both seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves as they groove around the master controls. They deliver classic Halcyon + On + On in all its radiance, and manage to keep themselves entertained through said mandatory motion by playfully dropping in Belinda Carlisle's Heaven Is A Place On Earth. If the extremely impressive rendition of Straight Sun is not enough to single-handedly cement Orbital an esteemed position among the field of contemporaries, then Beezlebub goes a measure beyond and knocks it far out of the park. It is so thoroughly exciting to witness these pioneers exploit the archetypes of the dubstep sound and current trends, and characteristically twist them through a creative approach that rewards with thrilling resolution and effect. By the time Where Is It Going? brings the night to a close, Orbital have once more left us with an impression that is far beyond the capability of almost any other whom dares to walk in their shadow.