The versatility of the human voice is truly an amazing thing, and The Beatbox Collective go a long way in showing just how far voices it can be pushed. As the show progresses, it is truly astonishing to see how this quartet build and layer their voices into a veritable symphonic wall of sound.

The accuracy and ease with which they produce and replicate noises from the outside world that would otherwise pass our notice, appears like a magic trick; the performance is so slick that it’s impossible to tell where the line lies between improvised and rehearsed. The hour becomes a mixture of a cappella, sketch and pure musical performance.

Audiences will find themselves in a range of venues this month, and it really depends on the artists as to how much that matters. Unfortunately for The Beatbox Collective, the venue actively works against them. As high-energy a performance they give, it’s not enough to bridge the formality of their room. Also, despite being able to accurately replicate sounds, the musical genres they lean into are very limited, and it all becomes a tad repetitive. This is a truly curious performance that takes an almost academic approach to the musicality of sound but unfortunately is blunted by a bad juxtaposition of vibes. 

The Beatbox Collective: What’s Your Sound?, Assembly George Square Studios, until 11 August, 6.15pm.