Infusion made some big waves when they crashed onto our radios so many years ago. With their irreverent smashing together of driving baselines, lilting vocals and chunky disco guitars – they brought a discordant sound to the then monotone Aussie dance scene. Since then the playing field has changed, Australia is exporting a raft of high quality dance tracks and Infusion have been noticeably absent. This all makes their latest tour very timely – their fans have been eagerly anticipating the fruits of their sabbatical and at their show on Saturday night they delivered a very loud mix of the old and the new.
The night started very quietly, there was no line to get into the Oxford Arts Factory and as I sauntered onto the darkly inviting dancefloor a furtive but eager crowd confronted me. I’d heard there was going to be a support DJ, but this guy wasn’t supporting much but the bar. Some radio favorites kept people shuffling and I got through a couple of long necks before the lights dimmed. The curtains flew open and the disheveled team of Infusion took the stage.
My memories of past Infusion gigs was decidedly cloudy, but as soon as the ever expanding crew took their places the memories flooded back, their faces were familiar again and as Better World pumped onto the dance floor the crowd loosened up and it was on.
The three piece have expanded their horizons, and added a guitarist and a drummer. The live elements added a lot to the show giving, them a bigger presence and much more raw sound. The lights were spinning and pulsing to the beat as they introduced one of their new tracks. It had their stamp of crashing symbols and itchy, screaming synths. The live vocals really pulled it all together, the lead singer jived and punched the air as he belted out the raspy tunes.
Their sound really is a diverse mash up of the sublime and the ear shattering. I think I heard a flute solo in there at one stage before the drummer kicked in and smashed the lilting tune. The crowd was slowly warming up, but I’d resigned myself to the fact that this was going to be a staid affair of true fans soaking up the sounds of the band they’d missed for so long.
There were moody interludes of more mellow tracks blanketed in deep blue lights. The guitarist pulled out the acoustic and everybody slowed to a gentle sway. The guitarist was swaying for most of the night actually. With his eyes rolling back and his mouth hanging open at a slack angle, he didn’t seem quite with us. He was clearly immersing himself in the tune, tripping on the hypnotic rhythms.
The tempo soon rose and as the drums smashed out its beat, a familiar tune started to form. I couldn’t tell what it was straight away. It certainly wasn’t an Infusion track, it was a theme song, it was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn’t remember what it was. My ears were straining until I heard the squeal of a group near the stage, “Who you gonna call, Ghostbusters!” That was it, the cymbals crashed and the sirens blared to a rockin’ version of the movie theme. They delivered a few more tracks but in a rude awakening, they finished their final track and the lights flashed on. They left the stage after only an hour and didn’t return for an encore. It had been a solid set, but the night was young and everybody was left shouting for more.
On the whole they played a diverse mix of their well-worn tracks. They’ve gotta be getting sick of playing Girls Can Be Cruel after traveling so far and wide on the back of that album. It was definitely time they showed off some of their new work and from my vantage point in the thick of the dancefloor, it was well received. The new sound isn’t a huge diversion from their unique style, but it’s fresh and I’m sure it’ll be all over the radio this summer. Oxford Arts Factory was a great venue for this type of gig, intimate enough, with a shiny dance floor and a bar serving long-necks.
SIRCrx says...
Nice Review, There Ghostbusters remix is off the hook. as for " I’d heard there was going to be a support DJ, but this guy wasn’t supporting much but the bar." thats goodwill .. and I dont know what was going on but DJing def wasn't what he was doing .. but he did play a few good tunes.
Fewsion says...
the new stuff was sensational, outrun were impressive to open as well