Live Review: ZHU, Running Touch

Running Touch is first to step up to the plate and takes us on a journey with his experimental electronica. Like tonight's headliner, he keeps his identity concealed underneath a dark hood and eye mask - mysterious. The innovative artist effortlessly blends together a mash-up of unique sounds and different genres to keep us guessing. We watch intently as he begins to karate chop his drum pads and launches into an intriguing interpretive dance routine between songs. A cover of Crazy Town's Butterfly is a pleasing surprise that really revs up the audience and his final two songs, including an original titled What's Best For You, stand out and leave us wanting more.

Darkness falls and smoke fills the theatre as two hooded figures emerge on stage. Retaining his anonymity, ZHU takes his place behind a large illuminated podium. With shades covering his eyes, ZHU's careful not to reveal much more than the outline of his shadowed face. His guitar player is absent, but with a saxophone player by his side he promises us that all will still be done properly tonight. Our senses are overwhelmed by visuals as we're taken for a drive through a neon city of lights. The words "LOST", "LOVE", "LIFE" and "LUST" flash up on the stage's back screen, which sets the tone of reoccurring themes that we are introduced to in his enigmatic world. Each visual scene that we ride through creates a new atmosphere to accompany each track as driven by the incredible saxophonist.

An impressive display of strobe lighting flickers at a rapid rate that matches the chaotic pace of continuous electronic beats with seamless transitions between each track. ZHU builds the volume up to a progressive-trance level and delivers a superb remix of Faithless' rave anthem Insomnia. A medley of OutKast hits including The Way You Move and Ms Jackson prove a real treat and the standout of the set is the moment ZHU drops his epic club banger Faded.

Just when we think it's over, we hear Hold Up, Wait A Minute as the momentum unexpectedly continues with his Bone Thugs-N-Harmony & Trombone Shorty remix collaboration. With his smooth falsetto, ZHU emphasises a line from Cocaine Model: "If you give me what I want/I'll give it to you right back." The reciprocal promise is understood as we cheer even louder and ZHU offers up his cover of Chvrches' Gun. We're then given a preview of ZHU's latest single and title track from his new album, Generationwhy, which sees us dancing away. After telling us he's excited to be releasing his new record next month, the release date 07.29.16 lights up on the screen to burn into our brains so we don't forget to mark it in our calendars.