Fiction @ The Alibi, Dalston

As far as single launches go, East London is full of it: bands with debuts to big up, “look at us!” is often their cry, while equally attempting to appear removed from the onslaught of any possible career success. But it seems Fiction’s launch tonight has managed to amass a more than credible amount of interest; to the extent that the stage is obscured by an infinite number of heads and bodies.

‘Curiosity’, the debut track from the quartet, is also the first offering from Offset Recordings, and fitting nicely into their vein of dark and luxurious pop – as demonstrated by the annual Offset Festival – Fiction come with instrumental weapons of agitation and intrigue. Their sound comprises melodies and harmonies not dissimilar to Adam and the Ants, with the same quirk of the dandy, but miraculously holds up in such a low ceiling-ed venue.

Fortunately, with sight being obscured, we can look beyond the questionable dungarees and fashionable scarves, only to be showered with inventive percussion and a tightly woven mesh of timbres that seems to stop them stagnating at the gothic imaginers stage. See, as is evident from their limited songbook, and even more so in the flesh, Fiction are garnering an allure that reigns them in from being purposefully messy, but allows them the slack of musical rope to explore a rougher edge of good pop.

With more obscure tracks like ‘To Stick To' on offer, its plodding but strangely buoyant guitars sitting in stark contrast to the alarm bell aggression of b-side ‘Zebra Crossing’, Mike, Nick, Daniel and James showcase a set that may just help them break beyond the stigma of having more hype and press than records. It may also give Offset that solid foundation from which to launch this country’s next prized independent label.