We Were Promised Jetpacks / Dingwalls

We Were Promised Jetpacks encapsulate the cleaner post rock spectrum which this year has seen a little bit a (re)invention from the likes of Now Now and Tall Ships, all, in varying degrees, encompasing a pop factor or indie sensibility.

While all these bands have been around for a good three years or so, We Were Promised Jetpacks are the ones who came to age quickest and got the head start. It's only really due to the music industries constant love of always wanting to the 'first' to something that have made, say, Tall Ships more attractive to day time radio than these four Scots.

Not that you'd be able to tell from this show. Camden's platformed venue Dingwalls was busy with fans who obviously hold a lot of affection for the group. The band themselves meanwhile maintained their passive aggressive on stage persona. I don't think they ever smiled - guitarist Michael Palmer looks completely bored until he starts grinding his strings again.

Despite a rogue stage invader (helpfully escorted off the stage by frontman Adam Thompson) and a bit of a bass breakdown, WWPJ persued and managed to create tension and real stadium moments with their minimal use of vocals and steady, hypnotic grooves - similar in many ways to how much of the electronica community create club euphoria.

It's when they give themselves room to really explode into interactive tracks that WWPJ come to life though. 'Quiet Little Voices' and 'Human Error' buzz and then bang with an energy most bands would kill for.

The band might look like someone's just told them their cat's died, but their atmosphere and commitment to bringing this packed crowd a proper show meant that the fans at least were in no doubt they just saw a band those daytime broadcasts aren't going to be able to ignore forever.