Live Review: Porter Robinson & Madeon, Lido, Elk Road

It was a relatively inauspicious introduction to what would grow to be a surprisingly spectacular event.

Whether by virtue of inadequate equipment or inadequate experience, Elk Road's performance features a surprisingly muted mix. To his credit, he still turned in a serviceable opening performance. The Perth producer's above-average mixing skills ensured consistent energy throughout while strong cuts like Hanging By A Thread offered plenty of high points for early attendees. Still, it was an uphill battle for the producer to really make an impact.

Norway's Lido, by contrast, excelled at making an impact but struggled to sustain it. Supported by a stunning lighting and multimedia display, Lido's performance could easily have served as a headline set. Unfortunately, however, Lido's songwriting is only intermittently strong enough to match the spectacle of his live performance. Mostly, his work is more impressive than engaging. It's only with more stripped-back collaborative joints like Jaden Smith's Only One and Chance The Rapper mash-up Angels that the producer's ambitions are fully realised.

In light of such openers, expectations for Porter Robinson & Madeon's headlining set were initially somewhat guarded. But, from explosive opening to triumphant conclusion, Robinson & Madeon's performance was genuinely (surprisingly) near-flawless. A perfect collision of talent, resources and ambition, the pair's set was both remarkably emotional and truly, staggeringly epic. The pair revealed some serious confidence when they blasted streamers into the crowd with their opening number (and dropped Robinson's epic Sad Machine single within 15 minutes of said opener), but it was actually entirely warranted.

It's generally accepted that, with colossal audiovisual performances, audiences are expected to go without certain experiences. Doubly so, if two established artists are sharing a headline performance. But, astonishingly, Robinson & Madeon managed to dodge that truism. While their set (which also included custom animation, confetti explosions and fire cannons) was a production of mammoth proportions, it was also deeply, sincerely affecting. Firstly, because both Madeon and Robinson's productions walk a strange line between euphoric and melancholic. Secondly, because there wasn't a single second wherein the friendship between the two wasn't passionately and energetically evident onstage.

In honesty, it shouldn't have worked at all. It was too huge. Too loud. Too ridiculous. But, somehow, it struck to the heart of what so many artists strive for in massive arena shows (but rarely manage): a truly transcendental experience.