The Auckland-based five-piece has just begun its 12-date Electrorganic Summer Sessions Tour, and tonight's show is its first in Queenstown in almost two years.
The core duo of Tui Mamaki, vocalist-machines, and Monsieur Escargot, keys-machines, debuted at Errobiko Festibala in Pays Basque, France, in 2004.
The expanded project - Mamaki, Escargot, saxophone-trombone player Carmel Courtney, trumpet player-keyboardist Finn Scholes and drummer Simon Walker - played tunes from albums Karekare (2007) and Mal de Terre (2008) during their last year's European tour.
"Berlin we spent a bit of time in and we had the pleasure of playing at Fusion Festival, and also around clubs in Munich and Amsterdam," Ms Mamaki said.
"Culture has deep roots and they approach it as a living, moving thing that in a way replaces nature, whereas in New Zealand we get fulfilment from wide open spaces.
Graffiti looks like wildflowers growing everywhere.
"One of our new songs is Zouki. The music is inspired by a dance called Zouk, from the French Caribbean - there's that feeling and flavour.
"The story is about finding one's own balance in the chaos of the world."
Ms Mamaki said the band's exotic theatrical costumes added to their French quirkiness, gypsy Pacifica and electro-Oriental-jazz direction.
The Revolver audience can expect "something that makes them move their feet and stirs their souls.
It's music in French and English with some interesting interactions between live instruments and production."
• The Mamaku Project, 9pm tonight, Revolver. Pre-sale tickets $15 from www.undertheradar.co.nz, or $20 on the door.
• Five-piece Wellington band Niko Ne Zna descends on Revolver tomorrow. Entry is $15 on the door.
