The Swiss are quickly becoming one of Australia's hottest exports. Having just returned from successful debut tours in Europe and the US, The Swiss are tearing up the club scene with a live 3 piece act that pushes the boundaries of what is traditionally DJ territory. This fresh approach, and their focus on a unique niche genre of Boutique Disco, has won them much praise, particularly from big names in the scene like Aeroplane and Tensnake. Their live act is honed to an intense ritual that captures the crowd and keeps the moving.

On Friday 27 August 2010 The Swiss brought the goods back home for an intimate gig in Adelaide. Set in a barrel hall at the iconic Bird in Hand winery in the Adelaide hills, it was the kind of show you felt like you had a VIP pass to. Everyone there was there for the band, right up the front of the stage and eager to dance. They were set up against the barrels on a stage low to the ground, keeping the band close to the crowd and creating a real personal connection between the crowd, the band and the music.

The Modular Records signed band are quite unique in their sound. The first and most obvious thing you notice is they have no singer. While most people have trouble comprehending how a band can work without a singer, you just have to hear these guys to know they've got a good formula. Their dance vibe is full of catchy melodic hooks and repetitive rhythms. In fact, it's a strong focus on repeating the driving rhythms that makes people just surrender to the dance floor when they hear this band. Tony Mitolo on drums and Sid Sidhu on bass are the ones responsible for this effect, keeping the rhythm simple and tight.

The embellishment and flair is provided through a multitude of synthesizers, which prove to be Luke Godson's forte. Armed with all these keys Luke plays melodies and hooks that get stuck in your head, and the colour he adds to the sound largely makes up for the lack of vocals. Of course, a bit of vocoder in the mix also helps to keep it interesting. Listening to the layers of synth on their recordings you'd expect the live show to be a stripped back version of the band's sound, but Luke has a way of playing more synths in one set than three electro/indie rock bands combined.

Without a singer, and with a distinct disco style and set of instruments to work with, The Swiss have their work cut out for them to keep their sound engaging. My only criticism of their live act would be that it all kind of blurs into one big track, but for the market they are targeting this is probably a good thing.

Highlights of their set were of course the popular first single "Bubble Bath", and the infectious melody of "Movement I", which is one of my favourite tracks. The Swiss live show is the whole package. It's like entering a carnival ride, hanging on for dear life while the world becomes a blur and feeling a bit dizzy once it's all over.

Collaborations with some good singers in the future would be exciting, but there is a market out there right now for the original sounds these boys are offering. If you like to dance, make sure you check out The Swiss.

The Swiss will be playing Parklife around Australia this September/October.