- Le1f brings a real vibrancy to everything he is. Young, black, queer, it’s loaded into his music, an explosion of politically charged but party rap. Surging out of a sea-punk background: that might be yesterday’s news in the quick-then-dead world of micro-genres, but for urban music it’s a breath of fresh air. A smorgasbord of synths, beats, rapping, samples and fearless experimentation.  It certainly sounded that way on Le1f’s first proper full-length, Riot Boi, which came out late last year.

It might be a little embarrassing to admit, but it’s been great to finally have artists coming to visit Brisbane just as their stars are waxing bright, not waiting a couple of years till nobody cares. Le1f’s took a little longer to rise that evening than I was expecting, hitting the TBC Club a little after 1am, with a crowd of enthusiastic and sweaty punters shaking it in front of the little stage. Actually it’s a really little stage, a friend of mine described it as ‘a postage stamp’. Le1f, who’s a big guy, barely had room to shake his mane of dreads for fear of hitting his two strapping back-up dancers. The effect was kinda weird -like three go-go dancers in one cage?- but the sound system there is good, really good, which is the important thing.

There’s a lot to pay attention to in Le1f’s stuff, both lyrically and musically, so it was nice to have it delivered with real clarity. Le1f’s rap prowess was on display, his skills are top echelon and that was never in doubt, but, with a guy who’s all about energy, there was a feeling that his fire was burning a little low. Which probably explains why the set only went for a half-hour.

Wait, what, was that it? It felt like a bit of a tease, but then Le1f is a guy with a lot of sass. I could have stood a bit more and I hope I get to, next time.

- Chris Cobcroft.