I have as much love for Kitsune and Ed Banger Records as the next person, but in recent years the French/German ‘nu-rave’ movement has juggernauted to such a degree that the market is as crowded with indie-electro crossover acts as the G on Grand Final day. What’s hot today is often forgotten tomorrow, but four years after releasing their first club thumper, Hamburg’s Digitalism have proven their staying power, still drawing a nearly full house to the Forum last night for an epic evening of distorted disco.

I arrived in time to see Otologic doing their thing to an already well-lubed crowd, giving the indie kids exactly what they wanted in the form of banging, shuffle-friendly beats. Harris Robotis delivered more of the same, dropping Boys Noize’s remix of Tiga’s Move My Body to the punters’ delight. At 1.30am, Jence and Isi from Digitalism took to the decks for a hyperkinetic 90-minute set that had the crowd rocking from the word go. Opening with Smells like Teen Spirit was a little pedestrian for my liking, but the fans lapped it up, and predictably went nuts as the strains of Zdarlight filled the venue, and again as the hypnotic thrum of Fire in Cairo assaulted eager ears.

Isi and Jens appeared to be having as much fun as we were, the former banging happily on drums as Jens delivered some live vocals with youthful panache. Tracks new and old were well-received throughout, with other highlights including last year’s clanging Idealistic, tech-trippy Apollo Gize and rough and ready Home Zone. As expected, the set ended with Digitalism’s biggest track to date, the sunny, sweet Pogo. The impact was akin to The Killers dropping Mr Brightside – the crowd a swaying, smiling mass of gratitude all chiming in for the familiar “something in the air” refrain.

The theatre itself leant a dramatic edge to the gig, the faux Greco-Roman stage complete with starry night seemingly better suited to more serious acts. As if making a mockery of such pretension, a few fearless fans scaled the wooden (styrofoam?) pillars in a defiant display of looseness. Anarchy seemed imminent at one stage, but thankfully the show ended before things got too out of hand and a sweaty, appreciative audience made their way out into the Melbourne night. The gig was to be held at the Prince originally, and I wonder if the pair might have sounded better at a smaller venue. There was certainly no risk of leaving the Forum with ears ringing, but whether or not that was to Digitalism’s detriment is debatable. On the plus side, there was more room to dance, and efficient and plentiful bar staff meant you were never waiting long for a drink. A great night all around, and I doubt it will be long before demand sees Digitalism grace our shores once again.