I was prepared for a strong feeling of deja-vu.  Less than a month after reviewing up-and-coming local artists Life Project – I’m at it again:

>>  Out and about.  Cold beverage in hand.  Traces of drunkenness.  Sweating and swaying.  Whilst right over there – before and in front of me – strutting their collective funky stuffs – it’s Pat Giles (aka HiRO) and Aunty Angie (Pat’s Aunt not mine).  Prime Components, Mechanisms, Workings and Guts of the internationally-recognised (and interminably groovy) – Life Project. 

It’s very familiar.  This sound.  This beat.  This  rhythm.  This vibe.  Very very very familiar.  It’s not yet four weeks since I heard and saw it last.  Yet the potential deja-vu that gnaws at my belly, taps at my temples, fiddles with my bowels – is not quite the overwhelming, all-enveloping, full-encompassing wave that it could be.  For starters there are several noticeable glaring differences to the gig I reviewed at the Rosemount Hotel in July.  I mean first and foremost – my sweating, swaying and drinking is being done in the comfortable confines of the Geisha bar.  A venue more appropriate to the ambient rhythmic soundscapes of this act.  As well at their Rosemount night – Life Project were ably supported by fellow electronic acts and all-round-good-sorts – Electric Limousine and The Resonance.  Tonight they’re flying solo.  How will they go on their lonesome? 

Well – crowd size and liveliness is generally a fairly good indicator.  After the last gig I remarked:  “Perth.  How much you still have to learn about the quality of music in your own backyard…  Scratch the surface Perthites.  Scratch it now.  You’ll find something down there.  Bubbling and brothing.   A rich deep well of vibrant electronica.  Swelling.  Bulging.  Pushing at the skin.  Itching to burst like an over-ripe pimple.  Exploding over our chins in a warm flood of fluidy goodness.  Great local acts making great local music and skirting the verge of major public interest…”  I complained:  ”...The major disappointment of the evening the turn-out – maybe fifty people max.  Not one of them shaking their rump on the ample dance floor…  Get out there and support your local produce peoples.  You’re sure to find a flavour that will suit your own particular tastes…” 

It would appear you Perthites took my words to heart.  << more likely it was a happy coincidence but I'll claim this assist in any event >>  On this night in question crowd numbers had swelled impressively.  Apparently one of the best turnouts for a Friday night live performance the Geisha establishment has seen in a long while.  And it wasn’t just the numbers – it was the willingness of punters to throw caution to the wind.  Shake off their inhibition.  Lay claim to the dance floor.  << boogie woogie woogie >>  Sure they needed a little encouragement at first.  Standing about in shadowed corners like the virginal wall-flower at a B & S Barn Dance.  HiRO himself – at a quite early juncture – feeling the need to propel himself round the dance floor.  Back.  Forth.  Up.  Down.  A well-dressed dapper whirling dervish.  Pleading.  Imploring.  Dancing for some crowd participation.  Showing us how twas done with panache.  And sure enough – with each passing moment – with every broken beat – with every lilting vocal – the floor began to fill and fill.  Edging forwards.  One shuffle at a time.  Closer.  Closer.  Until puddles of bodies clogged all spaces.  Bopping and rocking.  Cranking the vibe.  << boogie woogie woogie >>

As to the performance of the core and founding members of Life Project.  For the Rosemount gig I’d commented:

”...Opening with their own Deuce compilation contribution – Me & My Tribe – it’s fair to say imprisoning < Life Project's> sound on a little synthetic disc in no way does them justice.  Their live act is quite breath-taking.  Giles’ powerful vocals swoop, soar and soothe in turn.  One moment a glorious hum and whisper – the next a rising wail to blow your heart, mind and ear-holes as one.  And all the while the ever-energetic, ever-entertaining, ever-passionate HiRO? fiddles, twiddles and dances behind his little magic-suitcase…  It’s hard not to be swept up by his obvious energy and enthusiasm…”

And tonight at the Geisha my own words rang true.  Even more so.  In these cosier intimate surrounds – the sound seemed warmer.  More lush.  More tangible.  HiRO’s energetic playing style – full of boogie, bop and flamboyant air pummels – more in-your-face and watchable.  And Angie’s vocals more rich, deep and resonant.  Truly enjoyable.  As an added bonus (and providing yet another example of an inconsistency with the Rosemount performance )  Life Support incorporated the services of a real live percussionist.  One Mr Jeff Fulham.  Owner of Atlas Clothing.  One-time collaborator with Lake of Bass.  Sporting a very severe yet somehow swanky skin-shorn undercut.  His banging and pounding and thumping and drumming accentuating and enhancing the electronic beats that emanated from HiRO’s magic-suitcase.  Adding another dimension to the sound.  Providing things with a far “live-er” feel.

In a sign of the cranking-ness of tunes being offered up for our aural pleasure this evening – Life Project’s “Me & My Tribe” was stuck on repeat repeat in my brainpan for nigh on three days.  And it was a great gig too.  A great way to spend a Friday evening.  Same group.  Same songs as my previous reviewage.  Yet no dreaded deja-vu trappings.  A perfect working example of the wonders of constant continuous ever-changing evolution. 

UPCOMING THIS MONTH:  the Life Project CD launch.  Details sure to appear in all your local guides.  Check them out Perthites.  Before they become famous.  And bad-mouth you and your city in International Media Interviews because of the lack of support and attendance in their formative years. 

By Heronimous Wang