- In the week leading up to Octave One's sold-out Sydney debut, Lawrence Burden sent a message out via local interviews reassuring those anticipating their 90-minute live set that it would be a fast-paced, high energy night guaranteed to jack your body—whether you intended to jack or not. It's nice to read such enthusiasm in the lead-up to a show, but there's always room for skepticism. For a couple of guys who've been prominent on the Detroit techno scene for more than two decades—and who are currently racing across the globe—the possibility of the kind of standard of energy and entertainment they promised not being met on any one night could be understandable.
The surroundings were right, though: The scene in the high-domed Beck's Festival Bar on Saturday night promoted insanity in a way you'd hope for. Mad Racket's Simon Caldwell, when warming up the room, built the energy before the main act emerged, the boards of the venue's temporary dance floor bouncing courtesy of Bernard Badie's "Move to the Beat," followed by Deetron's remix of Aril Brikha's "Groove La Chord." Fast-paced, heady techno was already in motion, and it was doing things to people—not least the girl grinding me from behind, and anyone else within grinning distance from her.
Photo credit: Patrick Munoz
The brothers arrived on stage 20 minutes past their allotted time, fully witnessing the efficacious frenzy for the first time. They opened up with the warped and warm synths of "A World Divided (Jupiter II Mix)" before progressing into the pumping "The Greater Good." The set peaked with "Here Comes the Push" and went on to include the vocal mix of their commercial classic "Blackwater." They then took a breather with "What a Revolution Is" before sinking into heavier territory with "Love and Hate."
Despite the venue having two large openings on either side, it was a heavy, sweaty affair. Each track generated more hype and more bounce, compelling one reveler—stripped down to her bra—to turn around at one point and urge me to “Dance faster!” I didn't know whether I could, but Octave One had delivered the level of energy they had promised, and weren't let off without a collective floor stomping calling for an encore. January has barely ended, but we may already have our live act of the year here in Sydney.