British Sea Power @ Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

It has been two years since British Sea Power’s last album proper Do You Like Rock Music? Their new album Valhalla Dancehall came out in mid-January and it is already being hailed the guitar album of 2011.

In fact 2011 is treating BPS pretty damn well. They supported the Manics on tour last month and in July it will be the 10th Anniversary of the release of Fear of Drowning on their own Golden Chariot label. They have also compiled a 9-track Valhalla Dancehall ‘Alternate Versions and Demos’ CD which, with thanks to Rough Trade, will be their second release on Golden Chariot records.

They begin their two-hour show by announcing that they are going to play more songs in a set than they have ever played before. In the crowd the usual mass of fan-foliage has been reduced to just one waving twig, and so you can see the birds for the (lack of) trees, the stage more than makes up for this lack of natural history with a collection of ornamental birds watching over proceedings.

The 24-song strong set list read here] mixed up albums past and future and included 'Apologies to Insect Life', 'Luna', 'Observe The Skies' and 'Like a Honeycomb'.

Their new songs, including set and Valhalla opener 'Who's In Control?' comment on the dispirited state of the world today, but while occasionally soaringly beautiful ('Luna'), I was often left hugely underwhelmed by their cross into the mundane mainstream: Unlike the middle-aged moshpit up front.

The album may be a grower, but my lacklustre experience probably had a lot to do with the excellent frenetic fun of support act Race Horses, who far outshone the main affair on the night. If you haven't got hold of their debut album Goodbye Falkenburg, I suggest you do now. It can't be much longer before the rest of the world starts noticing the latter’s infectiously eccentric brand of psychedelic pop.