Review – Monkey Puzzle Tree
On a balmy Adelaide night Monkey Puzzle Tree materialised in the stately Ayres house Dining Room, to transport their mesmerised audience to another plane with their rich, captivating soundscapes. Showcasing tracks from their newest album, Praeda Maris, and a selection of other works, the local instrumental quartet displayed their dazzling musical talents.
Monkey Puzzle Tree’s music is very difficult to pin down: their sound is orchestral but extremely dynamic: playful plucking from the strings, tumultuous drums and moody, deep keys combine masterfully to whisk their audience into a communal trance.
Individually, Michelle Lam (piano/keys), Matthew Gorgula (drums), Sophie Calderbank (violin) and David O’Callaghan (guitar) are exceedingly consummate musicians but combined as Monkey Puzzle Tree they are the epitome of synergy. As an ensemble, their timing was breathtakingly precise; moving from rousing crescendos to sudden surreptitious staccato syncopations in spectacular synchronicity.
Through the Fringe Monkey Puzzle Tree are playing in a number of non-traditional performance spaces, including the Maritime Museum, Tomich Winery and their final show on The Popeye. Their venue choice speaks to their creativity and the experience of sublime dislocation which they induce.
Ensorceled, entranced, utterly engaged; the audience was moved to a well-earned standing ovation. If you enjoy rapturous emotional complexity in music check out Monkey Puzzle Tree any way you can.
