We Will Rise

Topology’s We Will Rise tour marks the launch of the Brisbane-based, Aria-nominated classical music quintet’s 16th album – a greatest hits collection that showcases the quintet’s two decades of original material. The performance features a back catalogue plus new pieces pick ‘n’ mix of compositions by John Babbage (saxophone), Robert Davidson (bass), and Bernard Hoey (viola), highlighting the talents of other principal artists, Christa Powell (violin) and Therese Milanovic (piano). The evening is energised by the addition of special guest drummer extraordinaire, Grant Collins.

There are musical styles aplenty, with something to please everyone – from the opening ‘Two Punk Fun’ (a nifty take on ‘Uptown Funk’ by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars) to the jazzy ‘Chop Chop’. The new ‘Drought Stories Texas’ is accompanied by a world premiere of a new short film about the drought in Queensland, proving that Topology can also create moving soundtracks. The show’s theme of rising up is loosely woven through the selection of compositions, including the Bee Bop buzz of ‘Millennium Bug’, reminding us that we can survive seeming disasters. That positive mood infuses the performance, welcomed by the socially distanced yet friendly audience.

There is a uniquely Brisbane vibe to ‘Share House’ – a filmed piece from a show with Kransky Sister Annie Lee – and a streak of humour. ‘You Can’t Touch This’ by MC Hammer gets a Topology polyrhythmic twist in ‘One Day Gavin Stomach’ – more a short story than a music piece, with viola player Bernard Hoey almost struggling to keep up with his own furiously paced composition. Robert Davidson’s pieces based on famous speeches – ‘We Will Rise’ featuring former Aussie PM James Scullin, Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have a Dream’ and Greta Thurnberg’s UN Climate Action Summit speech – were all too short and felt like they’d only just hit the runway when they ended. It would be nice to see them given more space to soar.

Creative collaboration is key to this group and the live work with percussion maestro, Grant Collins, has a real stamina that helps build the show’s pace and endurance. Like most of Topology’s artists, Collins studied music in Brisbane and is also an educator. For all the musicians, this gig was their first since the lockdown in March. While some technical issues marred the band’s introductions to their tunes, nothing phased the group who were obviously excited to be back on stage and looking forward to a tour of regional Queensland. It was a relaxed, down-to-earth and unpretentious performance. A highlight was the closing piece, ‘Ten Hands’ which summed up the group’s philosophy: five musicians, ten hands, working as one instrument.

Topology take their name from the mathematical form defined by continuous bending, stretching, and changing shape – a circle bends into an ellipse. Actually, there’s an old mathematicians’ joke – yes, really – that helps explain: What is a topologist? Someone who can’t distinguish between a coffee cup and a doughnut! And like that elusive ellipse, Topology the band, take familiar musical forms – from classical to jazz to hip hop beats – and twist them into interesting shapes, with absolute musical knowledge and a dash of humour that makes for a most enjoyable musical night out. After the Brisbane gig, Topology will tour to regional Queensland – Texas, Wondai, Mount Alford, Mount Perry, Bundaberg, Bell, Longreach and Winton – in November.

Beth Keehn

Photos: David Collins