It was a typical summer night in Perth, the type that makes Beck’s Music Box such a perfect setting for live music at this time of year. It was warm, but not sweltering, with the slightest of winds allowing patrons of the well-populated venue to dance away without collapsing with heat exhaustion.

And then there was Jamie Lidell. The British glamour boy, now a resident of New York after having gained an invaluable music education in Berlin, presented a one-man show in Perth, the city’s isolated status and the lingering after-effects of the global financial crisis perhaps combining to curtail any notion of a full backing band.

But if the Perth crowd was disappointed at the fact it was a solo Lidell on-stage, they didn’t let it show, giving Lidell a warm welcome as he appeared sporting a colourful African tribal necklace (in contrast to his otherwise all-black attire).

And though it was Lidell alone providing the night’s musical entertainment, his infectious energy and playfulness more than made up for the absence of a supporting band. Lidell was a bundle of energy, pouring all his efforts into beatboxing, singing, and recording and looping his voice, all the while controlling the backing music via his on-stage set-up, which consisted of a laptop, mixer and turntables.

A Little Bit More, off 2005’s breakout album Multiply, was one of the tracks early in the set to strike a definite chord with the audience, and Lidell rewarded his fans with some light banter following the extended rendition of the track. From there, Lidell attempted to please the different segments of the audience, as he straddled two rather distinct genres of music. There were stretches during the set of heavy, esoteric beats, upon which Lidell layered various recordings of his voice, and which were topped off with live beatboxing and sharp, edgy singing. These sorts of tracks, perhaps a function of his Warp Records influences, and his time in Berlin, won over the dance music purists in the crowd, with the new track I Wanna Be Your Telephone (off the soon to be released album, Compass) a good example of the style.

But whenever it seemed liked Lidell threatened to throw off-side the fans of his lighter tracks, there would be a switch to the catchy, easy-listening soul that has gained the Brit a broader array of fans than his more alternative work. Little Bit of Feel Good, off 2008’s award-winning album Jim, was one example of this style, even allowing Lidell to temporarily abandon his post commanding all things electronic to come out to the edge of the stage and simply sing. Later in the evening, the ever-popular Multiply performed a similar function, with the Perth crowd providing backing vocals which were good (in the case of the vast majority of the audience) and not so good (in the case of one screaming fan who was briefly handed the microphone).

The son of a musician, Lidell then showed off his impeccable music pedigree, his rich and full vocals in full flight during an accapella number, before another electronic excursion morphed into a thank you to the Perth audience and the end of the main set.

After the briefest of pauses, Lidell returned to the stage for a simple one-song encore, giving Another Day a heavy electro reworking live. Having pleased both segments of the crowd, Lidell left the stage to rapturous applause, his energetic one-man show having given the impression of many more being on-stage with him. And that, for a solo performer, is just about the highest compliment that can be given. Another lovely summer night in Perth, another success story for Beck’s Music Box.