After retrieving Duke, both Gruzman and Lyell return down to the stage and sit with me, our legs dangling over the front ledge, where this weekend they will perform to 12,000 people – in what is arguably one of the most anticipated musical performances taking place in Melbourne this year.
“This is going to be full,” says Lyell in awe when gazing upon the sheer size of the amphitheatre. “That grass area is going to be full. And we’re going to be playing. It’s going to be stupid.”
Having just landed in Melbourne eight days before the event to begin rehearsal practice on-ground, the severity of the size of the performance has now become inspiringly apparent, which will see the two perform alongside over 80 classical musicians from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to create a brand new and all-immersive experience of their debut album Down To Earth and some more of their beloved back-catalogue.
“In November when we were playing those shows with Client Liaison at The Forum we came here and had a conversation with Declan [Forde, Contemporary Music at Melbourne Festival], looked up at the amphitheatre and got excited,” explains Gruzman of how the concept for the show came together. “Woah, I suppose that means we’ve been working on this show for almost a year now.”
“How nuts is that!” exclaims Lyell.
“It’s really up there with the pressure and strenuous nature of making an album,” details Gruzman.
“It’s this year’s ‘album’ for us,” adds Lyell. “It’s this year’s project that’s bigger than us.”
How did the two go about re-imagining their works for a live orchestra? The tracks were sent to composer, violinist and conductor Davide Rossi, who would then rearrange them for the unique outdoor orchestral collaboration.
“He’s a founding member of Goldfrapp and was in The Verve before they broke up,” details Lyell of Rossi. “Jon Hopkins and he write a lot of the atmospheric stuff for Coldplay. He’s worked with everyone, he’s incredible.”
“It all happened pretty quickly. We went through and picked out what music would sound best with an orchestra,” adds Gruzman.
“We were pretty cutthroat with some of our original tracks that are favourites,” continues Lyell. “We’ll also be playing some older remixes, ones that would suit an orchestra better than some of our newer stuff. The show is designed for the songs that have more of an orchestra feel.”
Armed with a hand-picked band, a selection of guest vocalists such as Owl Eyes and Katie Noonan, and a light installation from French studio CHEVALVERT, the performance with the MSO will also mark the very first time the two have performed their own music live.
“We’ve thrown out being DJs for this one. We’re actually playing with the orchestra. I’m on drums and a couple of keyboards. Hugo’s on keys and a bass synth modulator and a whole bunch of things. We’re playing all different parts of our music which we’ve never done before. It’s a cool feeling, but it’s very daunting because we haven’t ever played live on stage before. I think that’s cool in itself, you’re going to hear Flight Facilities in a whole new way than anyone ever has before, and not just because of the orchestra. And the way you see us – we’ve got a whole new set-up, we’ve thrown everything from before out.”
“And, well, let’s just say we’ve got a few surprises up our sleeves,” laughs Lyell. “Let’s just leave it at it.”
With all of the 12,000 tickets to the show selling out in less than two hours, and with over 5,000 more people expected to watch the broadcasted show on the big screen at Federation Square, while their penchant for feel-good electronica has taken them to some of the biggest festivals in the world the two feel like this performance will be their magnum opus.
“It’s the biggest show for us that we’ve ever played,” exclaims Lyell. “I mean, sure, some people at Coachella and Glastonbury may have bought a ticket and though ‘maybe I’ll go and see Flight Facilities’, but this is definitely the one. They’re coming for us.”
A performance so grandiose it’s been in the making for almost a year, all while the two have been scouring the globe following the release of Down To Earth, one has to ask, what do the boys plan to do once they play their final note on stage?
“Party,” says Gruzman definitively.
“We got three ARIA nominations this week and we’re so stoked,” notes Lyell. “But we haven’t had a chance to celebrate because it would feel weird celebrating before this show because there’s so much working going into it. We’re just going to be rehearsing right up until the show.”
“It does feel like an album release. Once it’s done there’ll be a lot of pressure off of our backs,” says Gruzman.
The conclusion of the performance will also cap off a remarkable 2015 for the duo, and one can only imagine the furthered heights the two will reach in the next 12 months.
“It’s been a long year, in fact it feels like it’s been a lot longer than that, with how much everything has grown since we released the album, it’s a good feeling,” says Gruzman. “It’s exhausting thinking that far back because we had no idea how much was ahead of us.”
“We always say that it’s best to have your blinders on, know what you’ve got and live in the moment. As lame and ‘Bondi’ as that sounds,” laughs Lyell.
BY TYSON WRAY
Photo by Ian Laidlaw
