Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre. 5 Aug 2022
Synthony is back for 2022! It is the best of the best global dance tracks performed live by orchestra and a DJ. The August performance at Adelaide’s Entertainment Centre Theatre featured the Southern Cross Symphony Orchestra led by Sarah Grace Williams and was hosted by Mobin Master as MC and DJ spinning the decks.
The main event kicked of just after 9pm, after DJ warm up acts Audioporn and Andy Van got the crowd in the mood. Launching with Synthony - The Beginning the early transition into Fat Boy Slim’s 1998 hit Right Here Right Now is unmistakeable; the words flashed in vibrant text across screens framing the stage.
Armand Van Helden’s, You Don’t Know Me, the lead single from his third studio album in 1999, is up next and singer Greg Gould of early Australia’s Got Talent fame takes to the stage to deliver the well know Duane Harden vocal line. Gould has a powerful voice and command’s the lyric. Thumping base beats then fill the auditorium as the laser light show reaches a new level to Eric Prydz’ Call On Me. The dance floor is really pumping for the first time in the evening as revellers jump and sway to the beat.
Sliding into the progressive house track Levels by Avicii we are treated to vocals from Mobin Master mixed with the sweet sounds of saxophonist Ashley James. James caries the famous vocal line with his saxophone and brings the orchestra to the forefront of this epic house track. Harking back again to 2004, The Shapeshifters’ Lola’s Theme gets the oldies to their feet as we are introduced to Ella Monnery on vocals. “I'm a different person // Yeah // Turn my world around…”, she sings, pitch perfect and record accurate, elevating Southern Cross Symphony’s string section work on the iconic track.
French duo Klingande’s 2013 track Jubel brings Ash James on Sax back to the stage with singer Cassie McIvor showing us she too is pitch perfect on these incredibly difficult vocal tracks. The world class graphics, animations and lighting come into their own with Cafe Del Mar by Energy 52 up next. The trance piece first released in 1993 is an epic track and the uncredited lighting show takes its performance here to a whole new level.
Our MC Mobin Master recalls fond Adelaide times with his rebirth of the anthem Show Me Love by Robin S in 2007. Ella Monnery is back and once again crushes the lyric on this incredibly difficult sing. ATB’s - 9PM (Till I Come) follows with the iconic guitar hook followed by Sweet Dreams from the Eurythmics. The title track from the album of the same name released in 1983, Cassie McIvor re-takes the stage and demonstrates exceptional vocal skill on this tough, yet iconic lyric! Brava!
The high definition screens take on a life of their own again as Insomnia by British music group Faithless rolls in before the instrumental stylings of Children by composer Robert Miles with the unmistakable piano hook – played here by strings – transports us. We are treated to Paul Van Dyk’s For An Angel and then Cassie McIvor once again takes the stage with a rousing performance of the mashup Toca’s Miracle by Faithless from 2001; “let me tell you, you know, Aah // I need a miracle // I need a miracle // It's more than physical //What I need to get me through”.
Greg Gould takes to the stage again with Rudimental’s Feel The Love. The orchestra trumpet solo on the melody line is a cracker and absolute highlight! Gould returns, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, to sing The Potbelleez, Don’t Hold Back and Pink Floyd & Eric Prydz’ Proper Education. Originally billed for performance by Ilan Kidron, Gould seems underprepared and occasionally refers to lyric notes and concert master Sarah Grace Williams for his entrances. Nonetheless, Gould delivers bucket loads of energy and attacks the numbers with gusto.
Australian group Fisher gets the next guernsey with their Coachella hit and number one Australian Club Track Losing It, the baseline and iconic trombone drone vibrating the very foundations of the theatre.
A light show of rain drops, lightning strikes and a turbulent ocean are projected for Synthony - Storm Before Silence in the build up to Delerium’s Silence which again features Ella Monnery on vocals. The exceptionally well know 1999 piece, often hailed as one of the greatest trance songs of all time, is an incredibly complex sing. Early in the number it feels as though Monnery and the orchestra are out of sync, but as the track progresses Monnery hits her straps and delivers a spectacular finish to an exceptionally difficult vocal. Brava!
The haunting melody line from Adagio For Strings by Samuel Barber and Tiesto follows with a laser light show to dwarf them all before You Got The Love from The Source feat. Candi Staton closes out the show (or so we think!). Ella Monnery again delivering a killer vocal line that is record-perfect and joyous to listen to.
The audience aren’t ready for it all to be over however, and to cries of an encore the musicians re-take the stage for an absolutely thumping performance of Sandstorm by Darude. Flashing strip lighting and a laser light show punctuate the staccato beats and build to an epic climax that has the dance floor shake the very foundations of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre theatre!
If electronic dance music is your jive then Synthony is the fully immersive sound and light show you should not miss! Get onto it next time it is in town!
Paul Rodda
When: 5 Aug
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre – Closed
Touring: Sydney 29 Oct and Hobart 19 Nov
Bookings: synthony.com
