Empire of the Sun Hordern Pavilion, October 24 Reviewed by MICHAEL RUFFLES ★★★1⁄2 If you ever found yourself thinking, “This psychedelic electro-pop is fine, but I’d also love to stare at bonsai on the big screen”, fear not: Empire of the Sun have you covered. The Australian psychedelic electro-pop wizards are back with a new album and a new tour and, as per tradition, Luke Steele commanded the stage as the emperor, in curtain-like kabuki costumes and full rock-god mode, while Nick Littlemore sat it out. (He is lord of the lyrics, so doesn’t come on tour.
) The new songs, eight years in the making as the duo drifted in different directions, fitted in well with the old, if falling short of the classics. There’s plenty of eye candy at an Empire of the Sun show. Credit: The album’s first single, Changes , showed nothing much has: whatever else they’ve been doing separately, the duo returned with the warm embrace of sleek, festival- and radio-friendly pop.
A touch more evolved and mature, maybe, but no reinvention. Cherry Blossom , too, rang through as a sweet, faintly touching clone of hits past. Retro-futuristic visuals accompanied the pleasing Music on the Radio while the more bombastic Television gave off Flash Gordon vibes, albeit more Ming the Merciless than Freddie Mercury.
Even when the show lulled musically or went on indulgent tangents ( Swordfish Hotkiss Night , I’m looking at you), it never failed visually. There was no chance of being bored in .
