Hi Fi Way on UNKLE Sounds at The Gov: a support set that set the tone

In early 2026, UNKLE Sounds played a support set at The Gov in Adelaide, opening for Morcheeba. Hi Fi Way published its review of the night on 18 February 2026, and it stands as one of the most positive assessments the act's live show has drawn. The piece was written by Rob Lyon, and looking back at it now shows how clearly a support slot can register with a critic when it is done well.

Lyon placed the set among the best things on the bill. Rather than treating it as a warm-up for the headliners, he credited it with setting the tone for the whole evening, which is a strong verdict for an opening act to earn in a room that was there to see Morcheeba.

What drew the most praise was the programme itself. Lyon described a well-judged blend of UNKLE material and trip-hop selections from other artists. The balance mattered to him: the set moved between the act's own work and the wider genre it grew out of, and the transitions were handled with a sense of purpose rather than a shuffle of familiar names.

The review singled out several choices from the set. Be There appeared alongside Sneaker Pimps' 6 Underground, Portishead's Strangers and Lamb's Gorecki, and Lyon's point was that these pieces sat comfortably together, with the UNKLE tracks holding their own among the genre classics. The selections gave the set a reach beyond the act's catalogue while keeping its identity intact.

The review gives a useful picture of UNKLE Sounds as a live act. No rating was attached to the piece, so its force rests entirely on the writing, but the praise is specific enough to show that the band's approach to curation was noticed and valued. For a support set, that is a notable outcome, and it is the reason this review still stands out in the act's live history.