9th August 2008 - The Bakery, Perth, Australia

As unassuming entrances go, Pivot take gold. Half a minute into their first number it dawns on me that either this is the best soundcheck I ever attended - better than Battles' (which oddly sounded like their real performance) or the actual beginning. Once again I've unintentionally magnetized all the tallest people in the room directly in front of me. Fortunately a screen to my left shows a grainy negative of everything I can't glimpse between the swaying arborous shoulders, as three ungainly misfits stroke their instruments, electronic or otherwise, into some sort of life.

It feels like the atmospheric soundtrack to a 70's sci-fi, with twinkling, alien synth tones beamed in from kosmische kraut rockers Tangerine Dream, epitomizing some vision of a melancholy utopia. The most complex material kicks in first, with convoluted rhythms that even the most ardent drill and bassist would scratch their head at; punctuated with gawky, staccato guitar stabs. The drummer seems to be playing on the edge of control. As they slow the beats down waves of head-nodding break out amongst the facial hair innovators and other swinging cats that comprise this eclectic horde. Didn't I Furious is an obvious highlight. It has a low bass rumble with enough deep shake to be setting off car alarms within a half kilometre radius. The simple two step beat pulls everyone in and there soon develops outbreaks of partial boogying, underpinned by a snare drum so big and cavernous it scarcely conceivable. It's like a badly calibrated automatic hammer swatting human flies. It contrasts nicely with the cinematic twang of Sweet Memory which features some genuinely unconventional fret work.

Yet to develop any real stage presence, chitchat is limited to the drummer relating how they'll soon be touring various pubs, cafes and toilets of England. Regardless, their music is beguiling enough, with a unique sense of structure and composition. You never know what dimly lit corridor you'll be lured into next. There are no vocals except for various ahhhh's and baneful jungle yelps. A blinding guitar surge announces the title track of O Soundtrack My Heart over hypnotic keyboard swirls. Layers of sound evolve as a creeping under-current of tiny, arpeggiated ripples progressively intensify, like a war march of electro-static insects. It's both holy and unholy in equal measures. Not that I'm in any position to make recommendations but it might be ingenious to reverse the set order; begin with this haunting, zeal-infused soundscape, continue with the simpler jams to get the audience hooked and finish with the most challenging material. Just a thought.

The encore consists of Talking Heads' I Zimbra. I'd never have picked it for Pivot but it's a perfect match; the off-kilter bounce and cryptic chanting clicks like a charm. In a flash it finishes, and they're off, with a barely a 'see ya'. Mac and Dancin' Matty extend a hearty "nice one" to the laptop-ist (what is the term to describe a musician playing a laptop?) as he passes by afterward, to which they receive little more than a murmur. Unassuming, bordering on antisocial? No matter. The live show doesn't quite capture their full dynamic but offers a tantalising glimpse of some original heavyweight talent.

Transcribed by Reverend Chris.

PS: Whilst it's usually a good thing to sell out of Cd's at your CD launch, this writer had to go home empty handed. Next time try anticipating demand a little more optimistically. Humph.