Crystal Fighters @ Heaven, London

Crystal Fighters are confusing. Listening to their music conjures up images of a remote Spanish village high on acid raving away to folk dipped in techno beats. Their bio however, reads East London trendies.

But in an industry where image is everything, what does this matter? As they clamber on stage - topless, long locks, beads, complete with South American-come-Carribean drawl, Crystal Fighters it seems are set to bring a bit of Basque country funk to the sweaty tunnels of London Bridge.

Any other band and this would seem so terribly contrived, yet these folks have both the party beats and dance appeal to make it work. Their album Star of Live – a stop-start pop affair – is much more passionate and frantic live.

The band’s so-claimed Spanish links come to the fore during the set with wooden sticks, whistles and timpani woven into heavy synths. The beats continue between songs rumbling under the singer’s incomprehensible chanting – giving him a sort of prophet of the rave quality. For all the oddities, it seems to work.

Crystal Fighters sit in a similar playful bizarre world like CSS – only a bit more trance like. The highlights of the set come as the dazed audience break out into a haunting state of euphoria and for an hour, we’re no longer in London but in the bustle of a melodic carnival. A definite band to watch during the summer festival season.