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.