Deep Sea Arcade have been steadily building their reputation as one of Sydney’s most exciting bands, with 2009 devoted to a consistent release of increasingly catchy singles, supported by energetic live performances.  High rotation from Triple J of their new single “Lonely In Your Arms” has further enhanced the interest in the group, thus drawing a mix of old and new fans to GoodGod Small Club.

Support came in the form of four-piece Shady Lane, who fuse traditional indie-pop with keys-based samples.  The band is at its strongest when the four members combine, with Jordy Lane’s vocals the highlight.  He ranges from a gentle softness to an unexpectedly strong melodic delivery, carrying the sentiment of the song with him as he does.  Drummer Pete Avard provides a quite heavy and solid percussive line, which fuses well with bassist Conrad Richters as the two anchor the lightness and whimsy achieved through the keyboard refrain of Sarah Julienne.

Their subtle approach to providing light and shade within tracks is best exemplified in “Oh My God” which allows emotional development in a swirling melody tempered with moments of hushed minimalism.  Some tracks rely too heavily on pre-recorded samples, which tend to lose both crowd attention, and the sweetness of their live band sound.  However “Absolute Truth” is redemptive, as the keys and percussion line combine in a jaunty, up-tempo melody.  Shady Lane stand out with exceptional vocals and well formed songs which wash over the listener in an ever-so-pleasant haze.

By the time Deep Sea Arcade took the stage, the crowd has filled the venue and as the strains of opening track “Don’t Be Sorry” are heard, the scene almost resembles archival footage from Countdown.  Singer Nic McKenzie appears the modern day Mod, a look which perfectly suits their sound- a contemporary offering which respects its surf rock sixties influences.  The crowd dances as if in a Sixties film-clip, transitioning to a gentle sway during “Circles”, an earlier release which encapsulates the bands’ nod to psych-rock references.   

The strength of the band comes in their instrumentation.  The group has resisted the temptation to overindulge with guitar solos, instead relying on punchy and understated contributions.  The movement within songs comes instead from a rounded bass line and light percussion, which allow McKenzie’s voice to shine.  There is a real malleability in vocal styles, with adaptations in timbre allowing the individual tracks properly pay homage to their style.  “Crouch End” is atmospheric with a certain haunting quality, whilst “Evidence” allows the band it’s most emotive moment.  The continual refrain of “Am I wasting my time?” effective in its repetition.

The undoubted highlight of the performance comes with a cover of The Zombies’ release “She’s Not There”.  This faithful application of the original seems to be a cheeky way of addressing the potential accusation that the band is a pastiche of influences than originality.  Deep Sea Arcade seem to acknowledge their roots through this track, and then develop their own sound with their final track.   

As the show closes with single “Lonely In Your Arms”, the extent of their support is obvious.  It is almost impossible not to join in the sing-a-long as the track surges with a feeling of simple joy.   Deep Sea Arcade are a band which provide no-nonsense fun, and judging by the turn-out and reaction at their single launch, this is exactly what gig-goers are looking for.