LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/ Virgin) Doubts of whether
AlunaGeorge would draw the Oxford Art Factory curtains open surfaced rather early at their only Australian sideshow for the newborn Listen Out Festival.
Semi-intoxicated punters worried that their UK dance heroes had bailed after hours of swilling and waiting on a weeknight. But just before the clock struck 12, Aluna Francis and her other musical half
George Webb, stepped out on the stage and delivered a compact set laden with slow jams and nightclub tunes.
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With only one damn good album in tow - 2013's Body
Music -
AlunaGeorge kept things short and sweet, but had a string of hits to satiate the roomful of party people. Needless to say, lead singles 'Attracting Flies' and 'Your
Drums Your Love' ignited karaoke pipes and dance floors - and accompanied by live drums and bass,
AlunaGeorge were truly in their element. Hell, they even pulled off Montell Jordan's 'This is How We Do It'!
But one thing became clear from outset: Aluna is the star of this two-man show. As beat man
George parked himself firmly behind the decks, Aluna's vocal prowess and enviable dance moves won the crowd over - not to mention her washboard stomach and style-setting get-up.
Before long, she bounced out of her noir cape and began feeding the microphone to the fan girls in the front row like a seasoned pop star. But with a voice so unique and true to record, I wish Miss Francis had refrained from encouraging the tone-deaf girls to sing along with her.
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Futuristic pop songs 'You Know You Like It' and 'Kaleidoscope Love' also had an early and selling run, before
AlunaGeorge wound things down briefly with the wistful 'Outlines'.
Here the audience came to a standstill and lusted over those lush vocals. But dancing was certainly not optional when
AlunaGeorge dropped 'White Noise' - the
Disclosure collaboration that first propelled the duo into the spotlight.
This was a midnight show well worth the wait and hangover.