After experiencing Edge of Colour live, I can safely assure people this electronic duo encompass every aspect of the definitions of which their name derives. Their performance was colourful (literally and in musical tone), while their audio-visual display proved edgy in the most nonconformist sense of the word.
Edge of Colour are the combined talents of Michelle Xen and MC John Teh. Both pack impressive music CV’s in their own right and have recently recorded Edge of Colour’s debut EP, Glimmer – the launch of this EP formed the reason I found myself at Fitzroy’s First Floor last Friday night. The night’s supporting slots were filled by DJs Nick Thayer, Lewis Can Cut, DJ Mangohig, and live electro four-piece, Outrun.

First Floor is traditionally a late night street club. Meaning, by midnight the club has not necessarily hit its peak, but by 1am you may need to join a sizable queue to get in. That said, on this occasion, the venue barely contained a small crowd by the time Edge of Colour took the stage. This was a shame for the artists who performed but I must stress, they need not feel it was their performances that blew tumbleweeds through the bar. The crowd who were in attendance were lively, and quite a few people joined me on the dancefloor. Even before Edge of Colour hit the stage, I was already impressed with the calibre of the performances.

Supporting acts, especially DJs, never get much word count devoted to their efforts, but something special must be said about DJ Mangohig (or James) and Outrun. I was impressed with the musical prowess of DJ Mangohig. He constructed an eclectic track list, his transitions were fluid and smooth, and his physical enthusiasm only further inspired me to participate- (aka. a very long stint on the dancefloor). Mashing up everything from *Blue Boy*’s Remember Me, tracks from Michael Jackson, Santagold, to the 00s attitude packed Trick Me by Kelis.
Outrun are Melbourne locals, Dan Preston (electro-synth keys), Josh Armistead (vocals), Mark O’Keeffe (bass) and recently added fourth wheel, “the drummer.” For pure descriptive purposes I’d relate their sound to Midnight Juggernauts meets New Order. But they deserve more than a backhanded upward comparison; Outrun are electro dynamite in their own musical right. Their music was post-punk with a distinctive dirty Italo disco feel- a combination I found incredibly sexy. What is most attractive about Outrun is their homage to 80s beats. They use a strong drum/bass and synth driven melody to create cheesy riffs that had my feet possessed.
The band should also be given dues for their organic stage presence. Each member felt seasoned and well rehearsed, though collectively they never felt mechanical. Armistead’s live presence reminded me of Ian Curtis, on speed. With shoulders hunched over a freestanding mic clutched firmly between two hands, he cut shapes around the stage and beyond, a live attribute that brought intensity to his lyrics. While the band played to an imaginary audience, I got the distinct impression, their creative visualisation had them playing to a packed out room of sweaty teens and 20something kids, gyrating like Peter Garrett (circa Midnight Oil).

Producer/DJ/vocalist/visual artist – Michele Xen – is visual art. A contemporary artist who creates within multi mediums using sound, video, painting, installation and performance, she is the yin to MC John Teh’s yang. Thus it was no surprise Edge of Colour used fashion, colour, and geometry to create a kaleidoscopic visual display for their audience.
They used live vox looping and a slight echo in their vocals to create, at times a whimsical feel, but in an intentional way, which was always moody but never unaffected. Title track Glimmer was a firm electro track with a strong and catchy beat, while Sweet was a perfect layering of moody vocals and rhythmic baseline. They swapped around lead vocals but whether they were at the decks or leading the dance percussion, their fierce energy remained high. Xen even took a dance line through the bar to inspire everyone to their feet.
I have a feeling Edge of Colour have a unique and long career ahead of them. With their theatrical live show, they are the next step in live electronic music, and I’m excited to see what they do next. But don’t rely on my opinion, Brian Richie (Violent Femmes) is a firm fan and Michelle Xen (aka Lady Electronica in her solo musical career) has already been snapped by thelastbeatniks.com (the Australian ‘it’ website for cool kids and hip musicians).