SET LIST: Mount Kimbie + Charles Murdoch @ Metro Theatre, Sydney

Australia's Summer festival season is honestly probably the greatest time of the year for us music sponges. Not only are we spoilt for choice in regards to how much is going on, we're then further treated to greater windows of opportunity in seeing our favourite acts more than just once - thanks to the flux of sideshows that our bank accounts are forced to deal with.

As the Laneway Festival has just kicked off, it means its impeccable fleet of artists are in the country. This coming week will see Drenge, King Krule, Scenic, Parquet Courts, Chvrches and many more waltz into Sydney's live music venues. Excitement ensued, we can already scribe a nice big tick next to MOUNT KIMBIE's name, as we checked out their set at the Metro Theatre on Wednesday, 29th January!

The reason for so many Laneway ticket holders heading along to the event is because of this English duo. Since delivering their debut LP Crooks And Lovers back in 2010, it was clear that these guys were approaching the table with something different to offer. Veterans of our dance music scene, they didn't wear all the same beats and drops as their peers. Creating something special and rather unique from the minds of two people with slightly dissimilar taste in music has proven to be that of necessity rather than desire in the sonic world that we live and breathe today.

So with a following unfolding as more and more were blessed with the knowledge of Mount Kimbie's existence, the duo have certainly garnered the attention they so rightly deserve. What really lifted them up though of the later part of their intuitive career is their second full-length album that came out at the start of 2013 - Cold Spring Fault Less Youth. Housing a rainbow of sounds, Dom Maker and Kai Campos have pushed themselves to further unmask their passion, labour and great versatility; qualities that remained consistent with great prosperity and intent during their Sydney performance.

Plug into the latest music with our FREE weekly newsletter

Furture Classic's CHARLES MURDOCH warmed us up before the international heavyweights took to the stage. Although the room could have been a bit fuller, he still grasped the attention of many present, as he jammed with his own chilled out beats and blissful samples of his original material; predominantly from that of his debut EP release Weathered. This was cool while it lasted, though what really got the audience responding was his last track, 'Dekire', that saw Oscar Key Sung join the dude up on stage to attend to his rightful vocal duties.

HAYDEN JAMES 'Permission To Love' (CHARLES MURDOCH Remix)

CHARLES MURDOCH 'Why'

CHARLES MURDOCH ft. OSCAR KEY SUNG 'Dekire'

Spread out across the stage saw Maker, Campos and their live drummer Tony Koos immersed in a sea of towering synths, noisy guitars and a large kit. Add a stack of controllers, drum machines and keys to the equation and you basically have what seems to be too many instruments for three human beings. However, if you were present on the night you'd know that this assumption would be flawed, as Mount Kimbie utilised their equipment fantastically.

With a large screen behind them stating the name of their production, it soon started rolling into a series of their own personal images - presumably from touring overseas. They weren't in any way professional or edited, nor a finalised documentation. It was as if we were viewing the roll from the screen of a digital camera itself, as the shots were so raw and humble, it portrayed the two as just a couple of regular guys experiencing an amazing moment of their lives. These projections alongside intensely dark lighting is what made up the set's entire visual element.

In the foreground saw the boys belt out a series of tracks comprised of both new and not-so-recent material. About halfway through saw a suited Alex Cameron (of Seekae) walk into the performance space clutching an A4 sheet of paper. Filling in for King Krule on 'You Took Your Time', we soon learnt that this was a lyric sheet. Considering this and the rambunctious delivery of Cameron's vocals, it was quite humorous at the time. However, it's hard to say if it can still be a moment to reflect positively on, as it was a rather lazy attempt at pulling off one of Cold Spring Fault Less Youth's most popular tracks.

With standout tracks being 'Home Recording', 'Blood & Form' and 'Sullen Ground' off the later album, as well as Crooks And Lovers' 'Mayor' to leave us as the encore, Mount Kimbie proved their strength in the live field, making them an anticipating act to catch at this years Laneway Festival.