Live Review: Godspeed You! Black Emperor & Pimmon

When Paul Gough isn't presenting for stations ABC Radio National or FBi, he spends time under the moniker Pimmon which has seen him collaborate with the likes of Italian composer Giuseppe Ielasi and has also allowed the Sydney-based soundscapist a chance to share his wares abroad. Reminiscent of the atmosphere Lou Reed created when he was in Sydney for the Metal Machine Trio show, the setup was minimal (a laptop), which must be convenient when considering logistics and the noise created was easy to get lost in.

There was an almost tangible sense of anticipation for the Montreal-based ensemble known as Godspeed You! Black Emperor prior to their taking the stage, and as the band quietly made their way one at a time to their respective instruments, the eagerness culminated with one audience member completely catching offguard those gathered around him, as he blacked out and fell face first. Although initially thinking a premature moment of elation had taken place, it instead turned out to be a matter of too much of one or more substance, which eventually involved security escorting the gentlemen out the door.

It was difficult to discern when one song finished and another started and the set was over an hour-and-a-half of music that was broadly post-rock, but contained moments of indie, mantra and other layered sounds and moments that words don't properly describe. The highlight was surely the song Sleep, which drew a deserved response from the understandably subdued crowd. Equally attention-grabbing was the employment of their regular analogue projectionist, who was a wonder not just for his visual prowess but also his technical ability in running four of the complex-looking machines at once.

Overall, impressive is an understatement – it was a grand performance.