Here’s my take on The Presets. Australians seem to over magnify the success of local bands that when they get criticised overseas people adopt the “why-are-they-picking-on-us?” sentiment. I like the Presets, they play fun party music and everytime I’ve seen them I have a great time, but that’s because the only expectations I have from them is to be a decent live version of their recordings, nothing more.
I mean how adventurous can they get on stage when they play to a backing track anyway? This video shows how strict the Presets can be on the live stage, even with singer Julian doing his best electrospaz dance moves. In the booming atmosphere of a club surrounded by frenzied partygoers, you’d probably have a good time. But watching in retrospect through the sterile microscope of YouTube, it’s clear that they have limitations performing as a two piece.
Previous post: The Presets
September 1, 2006 1:23 pm
wow- i was just leaving my comment on the last post when yours went up! presets… yeah- they sure have money to fly over to the united states, i’ll say that!
September 1, 2006 3:19 pm
I’ve had a great time every time i’ve seen them live, and when i’m at a party the dancefloor always goes mental when a song of theirs comes on.
A live performance isn’t meant to be experienced over a crappy youtube video, so it’s kinda harsh to judge it on that. There’s very few acts that would work well in that context. Watching them at Splendour, with a big light show, silly dancing and thousands of people is the way it should be. Equally, seeing them perform squished on a boat cruising Sydney Harbour was fun. Either way, they bring the party.
September 4, 2006 12:29 am
Why are you guys writing about this shit… honestly, australia has lived and breeded electro for that many years. There are many better electro acts in australia – you indie kids have had little exposure that’s all. No offence but the famous pitchfork review was well deserved. I commend you on the blog but please please please no more presets, van she or valentinos… it’s a disgrace to both electro and indie scenes. we are better than this!!!
September 4, 2006 12:52 am
The whole point of this blog is to provide a one stop site for Australian artists since there there seem to be a lack of music blog dedicated to it. So we ‘indie kids’ have to post on the biggest variety of new Australian music that’s currently out there, because we believe by displaying variety, people can make up their minds in an informed manner.
I agree with most points of the Pitchfork review, more than Sophie or the other commenters did on the previous post. And that’s why we put up posts like this so people can debate, defend or bitch about the bands. And looks like it’s working.