LIVE REVIEW - Niki and the Dove @ XOYO - 28/05/12

So after postponing their much anticipated gig on the 16th due to illness (and let's face it, most of us were ill around that time anyway), Sweden's new synthpop sensation Niki and the Dove finally make it to the east london stage at XOYO.

Bad news first. The incredible excitement of seeing fellow up and coming swedish indie-girl-ghetto-rap-lectro act Elliphant is shattered when we find out she is no longer performing. I admit, I was looking forward to hearing "TeKKno Scene" live just as much as "DJ, Ease My Mind" or "Tomorrow".

Instead, the opening act is Duologue, a pleasant enough synth-tinged indie band, who sound like Keane on record, but the XOYO sound system, provides some oomph into their languorous indie soundscapes. Epic sounding closer "Push It" manages to get a relatively subdued crowd going with its relentless dance pulse.

By 9.30, the time N&TD are due on, and the venue is packed. However, it's another half hour or casual sound-checks before the lights dim, spotlights begin to swarm the crowd, and a the intro music begins. As the band move onstage in comedic (I assume) slow motion to this music, which sounds a lot like a butter advert with its contended strings and inoffensive drums.

Gustaf Karlof, "The Dove" begins to play around with synth loops, not recognizable from any of their songs, and the crowd is yet to be convinced. Then Malin Dahlstrom, "Niki", opens her mouth to utter some startling yet beautiful notes, the bassline to "Mother Protect" drops, and suddenly the band have us transfixed for the following 60 minutes. This extended live version of "Mother Protect" is absolutely stunning, the crowd cheering when the triumphant pan-pipe melody finally bursts into life. Following with a COLLOSAL "Drummer", and then ridiculously catchy 80s-friendly album track "Somebody", the band have XOYO in the palm of their hand.

Even unknown track "Taylor", dedicated to Malin's best friend, whom she informs us she has lost, and urges us all to call our best friends, as she is "still waiting to make my call". It's a touching moment, and the performance itself is understated and clearly heartfelt, and a wonderful addition to the show. "Last Night", timid on record, becomes a singalong anthem live, with it's cute refrain of "Last night we got married in a taxi", and closing duo of "DJ, Ease My Mind" and "Tomorrow" could not have been better received.

Yes, there were only 7 songs played. And yes, I feel that tracks such as "The Fox" and "In Our Eyes" would've gone down a treat. But this incredibly quirky, incredibly loveable and incredibly Swedish band turned 7 songs into a musical journey, extended cuts, previously unheard musical interludes, tiger masks (!), light-up rings on their fingers.

Even the massively self-indulgent hyper-rave outro of "Tomorrow", taking up a good quarter of the show, cancelling out the need for an encore, was a delight, with Gustaf chucking rhythm over rhythm and bassline over bassline until the band take their leave and the track is left to swallow itself whole as the audience stands stunned.

If this is what Niki & The Dove are capable of after a single album, there is no doubt that with a bigger catalogue future shows will be even more groundbreaking.

Jessie Ware - What You Won't Do For Love (FREE download)

It's official. Jessie Ware is the new Sade. Such is the feather-light tone to her voice, the way it cracks on the way down from a challenging note, and SBTRKT collaborator Sampha totally gets this... just listen to the soulful, bubbling synth arpeggios of this cover of Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love". Jessie brings 80s soul to the UK bass generation, and there's no one doing it quite like her at the moment.

"Jessie got a thing for you and I can't let go..." The feeling's mutual my dear.

DOWNLOAD "WHAT YOU WON'T DO FOR LOVE" FREE FROM JESSIE WARE'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

Jessie Ware's debut album "Devotion" is released on the 20th August.

Yeasayer - Henrietta

Experimental/dancey indiepoppers Yeasayer describing their upcoming record as "a demented R&B record", which rings true as we hear the first track to be released from it, "Henrietta". Somewhat similar to the psychedelic flurried arpeggios of Animal Collective's "Merriweather Post Pavilion", "Henrietta" starts in one weird place and ends up in an even weirder place, entering more of a dark, schizophrenic sci-fi/Radiohead headspace as the song progresses, but every second of the track is riveting.

Gossip - Get Lost

So Gossip's 3rd album "A Joyful Noise", a disappointment, is not so joyful. The surprisingly underwhelming production by Xenomania exposes the uninteresting melodies and uninspired songs, practically an unrecognizable band from that of "Standing in the Way of Control" and "Heavy Cross". Lead single "Perfect World" was sub-par if still enjoyable, but it still ended up promising more than the album delivers.

BUT.

Bloody hell does track 6, "Get Lost", leap out of the speakers just when you're drifting off, giving up hope on the album. In its joyous (or 'joyful' should I say) chorus, ravey pianos leap out of nowhere and Beth Ditto gives her gutsiest performance on the record. If only Xenomania had thought to make THIS kind of thing the starting point, the joyless "Joyful Noise" might have actually been something quite wonderful.

Icona Pop - I Love It

If this doesn't mean summer's on its way, then honestly I think it will never come. Pulsating like Martin Solveig's "Hello", but with twice the energy and twice the fun, swedish duo Icona Pop's new single "I Love It" is full of obnoxious rants and offhand nihilistic catch-phrases like "I threw your shit into a bag and pushed it down the stairs". Relentlessly good fun, this is surely one of the songs of the year in the making.

Fun fact: The song was written by "Stay Away" star, Charli XCX!

FOR FANS OF: Ladyhawke, Crystal Castles, Dragonette

Eli & Fur - Sea Of Stars (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Synthpop often settles for being twee, rarely wanting to enter anthemic territory, yet London/Surrey based synth-duo Eli & Fur's "Sea of Stars" is nothing less than huge. Female shoegazer vocals float over an almighty eurodance backing track that takes influence from 90s dance and techno, whilst still sounding timeless. Genuinely moreish. Keep an eye out for further tracks by these guys.

Download the track for FREE below, via the SoundCloud link.

FOR FANS OF: Grimes, Niki & The Dove, Chicane