Live Review: Aldous Harding

Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent in the northern corner of Hyde Park is a decent space for a gig, save for the rattling air conditioner, the carnival sounds outside and the dodgy seating.

Off-putting as the distractions were on this hot, muggy Sydney Festival evening, it didn't matter. As soon as Aldous Harding casually took the stage we were mesmerised.

She launched straight into Swell Does The Skull and for the next 75 minutes the sold-out tent's inhabitants were locked in Harding's world. The unique sounds that came out of the New Zealander's mouth entranced us. They rose and fell and were created in such a way that you wondered if there was a violin or flute hidden away creating that noise. No, it was her.

"It's lovely to play Sydney again after all this time." A pause. "That's about it."

That was one of the few sentences we heard from Harding throughout the concert and that was fine. The music said volumes. Her solo fingerpicking was hypnotic enough, but she was joined by backing vocalists, a bass clarinettist, keyboardist, bassist and drummer. As talented as they are, they were just a backdrop to Harding absolutely owning the stage.

She stood up, handed her guitar to her keyboardist who deftly switched instruments, moved the mic stands, grabbed a Red Bull for a quick swig and started to sing Blend. It was a weird little segue and choice of drink for such a languid performance (not to be confused with weak). The live versions of her songs felt different to the recordings. They were more precise, like every word and every sound had been carefully considered before being uttered.

And then there was the expressiveness of Harding's body. Starting with her eyes and the way they rolled back in her head as she got lost in her own voice, the intensity of her stares or the quick little winks to someone, somewhere in the audience. It all felt a bit like she was playing a part in a play of her own making. In Horizon, sans guitar, she gestured between the 'princess' and the 'horizon' with such purpose that we were tempted to look. Everything was done with meaning.

The title track from Party was astonishing. When Harding's voice broke out of its high-pitched timbre, it became something else, raw and exciting. The song became a vehicle for her unique delivery and the whole crowd went along for the ride, offering gasps of recognition at the end of the track.

"I don't say much these days. It's just easier that way." A couple of times during the set, it was like Harding wanted to say something, but she stopped herself silently before continuing the show. In the end, we were treated to a collection of tracks from both of her excellent albums and a few new ones, too. For her encore, she finished with one of those new songs, Pilot. An excellent way to finish a transcendent evening of music.