PHOTO: Michael Dach CMW Live: Creature EL MOCAMBO - MARCH 6 - by Michael Dach - Riding the electronic musical curve, a trend among artistic neophytes, Montreal’s Creature symbolizes a retro aesthetic, adding futuristic design to familiar territory. Think how Blondie, No Doubt and the B52s would sound together, insert Will Ferrell on cowbell, and Creature’s schematic transforms from harmonious blueprint into visual stimulant. Even the group’s MySpace page isn’t enough preparation for the spirited callisthenics accompanying their live show. Keyboardist Cowbella sporadically tosses her limbs about, multitasking in between vocals, her synthesizer and, of course, the undeniable clanking of that much-needed cowbell. Kim Ho embraces his guitar, breaking off into robotic trances that instinctively command his colleagues, then backing up and taking mutual lead on the mic. Sid Z steadies his drum patterns to match the rhythmic details woven through each song. And bassist Gina Simmons follows her instincts, picking up the slack where loose ends need tightening. The only area requiring a slight adjustment, however, is the crew’s audience interaction. The otherwise energetic quartet opts to remain behind an invisible barrier, sheltering themselves just shy of a climactic plateau with the fans. Nevertheless, the attentive front row caves under the rhythmic trance streaming off stage as boogie-down, imitative “Brigitte Bardot” follows Creature’s carefree dance formula. This is actually what makes the group so infectious; they’re all about seizing the moment and embracing the footloose, free-for-all mentality. Let’s hope Creature can continue to stay ahead of the learning curve.