Live Review
Tralala Blip @ 4ZZZ Carpark
On a Sunday afternoon considerably cooled from the Election Day heat of the day before, what better way of seeing off the weekend than spending some time in the 4ZZZ Carpark and catching some bands. A good number of people shared this thought, packed in the small confines, ready for quality tunes.
Terry were the third band on the bill, following on from Per Purpose and The Mosaics. Terry are from Melbourne and feature members from Dick Diver and Total Control. Their set is a jangly post-punk delight with highlights such as the single Eight Girls. Essentially two boys and two girls bashing out some good times, they play loose but tied together and the banter is care-free. They are followed by something completely different, Brisbane’s Scraps. This, incidentally, is after a good amount of time allowing people to grab some icy refreshments. Laura Hill aka Scraps ushers in the slowly dying light with some dance beats. Many in the carpark are involuntarily moving whether they’re conscious of it or not. The trance-like set culminates with the title track from her most recent album Electric Ocean.
Anticipation is high for the final act on the bill though. Tralala Blip from the North Coast of NSW are an absolute treat from the get go. Five members crowd around a table full of electronics, swapping turns on the microphone. Squiggly lines, blips, beeps, and beats emanate from a bed of chords. Their presence is dream-like, trance-like, gentle and searching. They give great readings of songs such as Wax Figurine and Soccer in Space. Soccer in Space off their first album, Aussie Dream, in fact feels like it’s a springboard from which the rest of their output has sprung, being as it is playful, creative and completely unaffected by the outside world. This is especially true of the final song they play, the title track from their latest album Oceans of Love. It’s a great finale and awe-inspiring watching the members cueing off each other. It’s one of those moments you cherish when seeing a band live. It’s a great song for one, but you feel something shift in the air watching those around you reacting as well.
All in all, as the carpark slowly empties, an excellent time has been had. This is not music filling big spaces, but it’s as highly valued as any place else. 4ZZZ carpark for the win yet again.
- Ian Powne