Andrew Veeder on June 26th, 2014

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Sydney’s Movement brought their minimalist soul/nu-R&B sound to the Echo on Tuesday night, the first stop of five on their debut U.S. tour. The Aussie three-piece band played the entirety of their recent five-track, self-titled EP, and a killer cover of Mario’s “Let Me Love You,” jamming out the intros and outros and transforming the material live.

||| Photos by Carl Pocket

Singer Lewis Wade’s stellar voice brings to mind How to Dress Well and Perfume Genius, while their sound brings to mind Chromatics and The xx. “Control You” began a capella before it was engulfed in the sultry atmosphere of synth tones and live production, with Wade seductively rocking a mic and an FX mic, crooning the chorus “Closer than paradise / you stay in my head / and I’ll move slow …” in an emotional hush.

The moody “Ivory” pulsed to life and showcased their ’90s R&B influence, and then percussionist Sean Walker picked up a guitar and stepped forward to shred it out. Fan favorite “Us” was the penultimate song played, as Wade’s moody and soulful lyrics “You say / believe in / trust in / us” held their restraint until he boomed the final chorus. They closed with “Like Lust,” its lush beginning swelling with Jesse James Ward’s bass and a cacophony of drums as Wade keeps repeating, “Could you come on over / When it feels like lust.” Don’t miss them when they come back to L.A. to play new material at a bigger venue.

San Fernando Valley-based Tower played in support, with singer Derek Coburn and guitarist Darin Green whipping up nostalgic New Wave pop jams in the vein of Twin Shadow beaming with sunshine. Their set was energetic and fun, featuring their catchy track “Can’t Vibe,” and Coburn seemingly fighting the urge to push his hair back or rip his shirt off while singing, numerous times getting halfway there.