Enmore Road was full of alfresco diners last night, many of them meeting with friends ahead of seeing Morcheeba at Enmore Theatre. No doubt, their conversations went something like this: “I remember listening to the Big Calm album in my room at Uni!”, “Me too! It reminds me of my first love, job, heartbreak, trip to Thailand!” This trip down memory lane, while sitting on Enmore Road, became even richer with the 90’s grooves and nostalgia delivered by DJ James Lavelle, aka Unkle Sounds.
No ordinary DJ…
Hold up. They had a DJ?! When you hear the gig opens with a DJ, you might keep talking and not really pay attention. However, this is no ordinary DJ, and Unkle is no ordinary sound. Think long‑term residency at London’s Fabric nightclub and legendary producers like DJ Shadow. Add collaborators like Mike D (Beastie Boys), Jason Newsted (Metallica), and peers like The Scratch Perverts. Bearing all this in mind, you get where this is going – he’s not here to f spiders. Lavelle carried the crowd back to a time when Mulder and Scully opened the X‑Files and Celine’s heart went on and on and on…
Dropping in hits like Sneakerpimps “6 Underground”, DJ Shadow’s “Organ Donor” and closing with Massive Attack’s “Unfinished Sympathy”, Lavelle set the scene for the evening.
Luminous!
Around 9.15pm, the lights dropped once more and giant orange letters spelling Morcheeba glowed at the back of the stage. Lead singer Skye Edwards forward looking luminous, statuesque and animated. In fact, at one stage she asked for the lights to be dimmed so everyone could appreciate the fibre optics glowing in her dress. Fancy! And let’s not get started about those incredible Alexander McQueen‑esque shoes!!
Kicking off with “Trigger Hippie”, the band drove a heavy bluesy tone that complemented Edwards’ distinct and powerful vocals. She chatted frequently with the audience, keeping the vibe focused on having fun and connecting with the music. Founding band member Ross Godfrey also told the crowd how much they love coming to Sydney – especially the Enmore Theatre.
The set balanced older and newer material well. Early songs favoured work from Who Can You Trust? and Big Calm, punctuated with newer tracks like “Call for Love”. Highlights included classics “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day”, “The Sea” and “Part of the Process”. Later mash‑ups of Dawn Penn’s “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” and Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff” gave the crowd another chance to sing and dance along.
As the evening drew to an end, the band powered through their three‑song encore. Finally, the crowd farewelled the band and their mid‑90s nostalgia hit and stepped out of the Enmore back into the present day.
A date in 2028?
Good news too! Looks like we have a date with Morcheeba in 2028 — they’ll be back to celebrate 30 years of Big Calm. That’s what you promised… right guys? For now, Morcheeba and Unkle Sounds conclude their Australian tour tonight in Brisbane. So, catch them if you can!
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Photos by the author
