Over the past few years the Becks Festival Bar has gained a rather formidable reputation for delivering quality music. This year, despite the fantastic line-ups assembled by the likes of Dust Tones, Future Classic and Mad Racket, I was most excited by the prospect of seeing New Zealand live drum n’ bass outfit Shapeshifter.

I arrived just after the start of Rastawookie’s set to find the venue already reasonably full. I’ve seen Rastawookie around three times now, the first time back in 2002 at a Christmas bash. Their music at that time was a whimsical and charming concoction of upbeat reggae that even verged on ska in places, and the second was in 2005 when they played with Melbourne reggae heavyweights The Red Eyes. At the time I was quite critical of Rastawookie – their line-up had changed and the music they were playing smacked of an attempt to cash in on the popularity of bands like The Cat Empire. So I was somewhat skeptical about them opening for Shapeshifter.

But this skepticism was entirely misplaced: while their set lacked the whimsy of their earlier music, it had lost none of the charm. Their performance blended reggae, salsa, swing and drum n’ bass influences together seamlessly, and I can’t think of anyone else who would have been better suited to opening the night. Their last track in particular showed that while Shapeshifter are the undisputed kings of live drum and bass, Rastawookie can be counted as a close second.

After what seemed an age of setting up the various electronic bits and bobs that the boys need to work their magic, Shapeshifter took to the stage and opened with the first track from their new album New Day Come. This was closely followed by Bring Change, and by then the crowd was well and truly in the palm of charismatic frontman P. Digsss. The set was a blend of tracks from the recently released (in Australia at least) Soulstice, and their earlier 2004 release Riddim Wise. Highlights included When I Return, Electric Dream and another one of their hits that jetted off into an extended percussion section. Clearly whoever it was that first said “needs more cowbell” had been watching Shapeshifter play live!

Kye, Sydney MC and frontman for both Budspells and Wicked Beat Sound System, joined P.Digsss on stage for Heat of the Moment, but unfortunately Ladi6 wasn’t able to fly over from New Zealand to join them for the performance. The set was rounded out by a track that allowed the boys to really show off their skills – they are, after all, trained jazz musicians. The musicianship displayed by the drummer was particularly impressive, and his ability to play with such intensity for so long was nothing short of amazing. After leaving the stage briefly, they returned to play the gorgeous One, a perfect track to close out what was a most fantastic set.

Soulstice earned my personal ‘Album of the Year’ award for 2006, and though we’re not even at the end of January yet, Shapeshifter’s performance on Friday night has put them firmly in contention for best gig of 2007. Boh!