WILDER @ Bull & Gate, London

There’s something a little strange about tonight. For once, it seems, the best gig in town really is in a north London boozer, and one where the sight and sound of the band are gloriously above par.

WILDER are Rough Trade’s latest boon, a Bristolian four-piece whose musical make up is somehow breathing new life into guitars, bass and drums. Not so long in the tooth, not only is their label stamp of approval a talking point – boat parties, support slots with Julian Casablancas and ever increasing rumours are just a hint that there could be a lot more to come.

And then there’s the tunes. The bounding double drumming confronts us when we enter, the oddly spacious Bull & Gate, with the synth player taking up mixed duties; it doesn’t detract from the fact that drummer Bec is a ready-made metronome. Her strength at the back matches the charisma of the front, where both lead singer and guitarist are harmonising like a regular Pete n Carl – although far cleaner and less slurry.

Blending non-showy synthesiser into darker tunes and those with hidden booster rockets of melody, they wind through – what can’t be more than half an hour – a set that in its brevity still feels wholesomely complete. Add to this, extra helpings of crowd interaction, which is only marginally hinted at this evening.

Perhaps it’s a teensy bit of nerves, but the chitty-chat aside, they leave Steve Lamacq’s new club night venture with a headliner to go: and one with a task of topping them that, from here at least, looks pretty hard.

It’s a crafty kick of neat songwriting, which primarily leaves the set closer and new single ‘Girls vs Boys’ like receiving a kiss at the end of a date: a very enjoyable time regardless, but the final act leaves us wanting more.