Monte pleaded to the audience, “Good times are abound, don’t fight the feeling.” This is the optimism, hopefulness and positivity that Client Liaison siphons through their forward-thinking and unique retro sound.
The poised and suave Muki sauntered and boogied across the stage to beats ranging from bubblegum-pink-pop to wobbling dubstep. The eclecticism of the beats complemented the fierce singer, as she passionately belted out terrific pop hooks. Between synchronised dance sequences and gigantic choruses, Muki explained her personal lyrics with snide but hilarious remarks. Her perfect balance of dream pop and synthpop sensibilities kept the set interesting, and gave it an immaculate flow.
Sassaparilla was a particular standout tune with a bubbly and unique beat as well as a catchy chorus hook. Muki showed off her abilities both in beat production and vocal execution with her cover of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe, which went down a treat with the slowly building audience.
After Muki came five-piece Total Giovanni, who took the stage with a similar level of swagger. The band were led by two infectiously sexy frontmen, robed in tracksuits. Vincent D and Spike Punch danced to their disco-tinged electronica with spellbinding, reckless abandon. The blending of this with reverb-heavy, palm-muted guitar solos, live bass guitar, and synthesised beats was a pure delight. Tunes like Can’t Control My Love and Paradise had the band and the audience dancing together in appreciation. Total Giovanni were an incredibly delightful band that had nothing but moxie and assertiveness behind their blissful disco tunes.
A colossal curtain stretching across the Forum’s stage was drawn to reveal the dashing and debonair Client Liaison and their decorated stage – lined with water coolers, old desktop computers and a wired telephone. The duo are completely businesslike in the way they perform and redefine music. Performing is exactly the way the stylish quartet presents their nostalgic yet fresh sound.
Pyrotechnics, synchronised dancing, countless costume changes, a dynamic light show and even go-go dancers heightened the music’s theatricality to a completely new plain of euphoria. Band members Harvey and Geordie Miller, and familiar face from triple J, Tom Tilley, charismatically interacted with each other and the audience with seamless choreography and methodical instrumentation. This, matched with singer Monte Morgan’s almost otherworldly presence on stage, brought the atmosphere up to an unfathomable intensity.
The crowded and stifled audience was captivated by the idyllic retro soundscapes of World Of Our Love and End Of The Earth, songs that promoted plenty of dancing and crowd surfing. Other massive hits like Wild Life and Feed The Rhythm blended into each other perfectly. A Foreign Affair, the tour’s namesake, featured support act Muki, and as can be said for every song in the set, launched passionate singalongs. Following a visual tease of new unreleased tracks, Canberra Won’t Be Calling Tonight and Off White Limousine somehow concluded the night on a higher note, despite the already electric aura.
Upon ending the show, Monte pleaded to the audience, “Good times are abound, don’t fight the feeling.” This is the optimism, hopefulness and positivity that Client Liaison siphons through their forward-thinking and unique retro sound.
Highlight: It’s lame, but the entirety of the Client Liaison set. It’s life-changing stuff.
Lowlight: The band teasing new music in a video, not live on stage. Show, don’t tell.
Crowd Favourite: Off White Limousine.
