Om at the HiFi bar

Om
HiFi Bar
125 Swanston St
Melbourne
OM at the HiFi Bar last night were an immense, epic and awesome experience.
From the first stroke of cavitating bass to the final smash of the zildjians these guys were tight, deep and immense.
Al was total absorbed in the sound generated by his bass and projected with devastating effect from a stack of Ampegs, even to the extent of causing harmonic distortion to the vocals and to voices in the crowd. If I was synesthetic I'm sure this would appear as sheets of purifying white opalescence burning away the gray dross of the corporeal.  From the very first note which opened like a dam breaking until the lights came Om were simultaneously totally heavy and disorientating but equally totally natural and hypnotic.

The new drummer Emil worked tirelessly on his 10 piece Drumworks kit, making heavy use of the cymbals and only pausing once for the whole set. Emil's kit was tight with his base sounding as sharp as his snare which was like a repeated Shakti touch and perfectly complemented Al's bass and provided progression and cathartic release.

Rob Lowe, aka Lichens was an unexpected but welcome presence playing some sort of electronic sound board with oscillator, a collection of tambourines and a white guitar played upright like a tambura. He also contributed some amazingly angelic vocals which blended seamlessly with the rhythm and bass.

All in all an inspiring show from a creative well spring of a band.

Aummmmmmmmmmmmmm for ever.