The masked man known as SBTRKT (aka Aaron Jerome) has had critics, fans and just about everybody crazy over his self-titled, debut album. Released on the unstoppable Young Turks label, SBTRKT has spawned some of the biggest tracks of 2011 and eludes any kind of genre pigeon hole (UK Bass? 2-step? Electronica? Fucking amazing?). Fortunately, the producer’s live show has proven that he’s more than just hype, and the buzz around Aaron Jerome is only set to become louder.

Sydney act Fishing warms up The Metro for the evening, and has the Toro Y Moi chill wave, IDM vibe down pat. Fishing put on a set full of whimsical and ethereal melodies that still packed a decent enough punch to stop things from becoming bed time music.

Soon, it was time for SBTRKT to take to the stage, in a cropped mask for the evening. Although Jerome works his way through the album, he manages to throw a different spin on almost every track. Spending the set alternating between decks and a drum kit, he also has Sampha onboard, who is also masked and ready for action tonight on vocal duties, keys and cowbell (yes, cowbell).

Opening with the glistening Heatwave, which melts into the sublime Hold On, the inclusion of live percussion combined with Sampha’s heartbreaking vocals take already well-produced tracks to a completely new level. While tracks like Pharoahs (shyly introduced to us by Jerome with the the announcement “this one is called Pharaohs”) elicited thunderous approval and roared sing-a-longs, it’s the musical riffing between Sampha and SBTRKT that is truly something to behold.

Wildfire, which everyone had seemingly been waiting for, starts off with the Drake remix before finally dropping into the unmistakeable chorus featuring Little Dragon’s Yakimi Nagano, has the entire Metro bellowing along with obvious relish. Tracks like Trials of the Past give Sampha his moment to shine as an exceptional vocalist, as SBTRKT continues his juggling act between the kit and his laptop.

Finally, after an enthusiastic clap-along, and some very polite check- ins from the man himself (“I hope you enjoyed that one”, he says coyly, as we scream ourselves hoarse) we’re given Never Never and Right Thing To Do as the encore, the latter seeing Sampha step in on vocals and bringing in the cowbell (a very underrated instrument, I feel) in to a thundering finale. Hopefully, there is more than one headlining show next time, because this is the kind of music you can listen tp again and again.