Electrelane @ Bongo Club

Electrelane live are a better band than Electrelane studio. In fact, despite the evidence of their four fine (but not thrilling) albums, the quartet might be one of the most exciting live bands around. Although they've recently been supporting Arcade Fire in academies and the like, they particularly shine in smaller venues like the Bongo. Electrelane live also mix it up royally every time. Tonight they play few singles, and even less of melodic new album, No Shouts No Calls. What is offered instead are a range of instrumental pile-drivers, each of which is charged with powerful, unspecified, yet acutely feminine emotion, and grounded in pop history and mythology. At times keyboard player Verity Susman hammers out chords like Jerry Lee Lewis, at others Mia Clarke's incredible guitar work resembles no-one so much as Hendrix. Both are steered like kites in the wind by a tight and flexible rhythm section. Post-rock for people who like to rock, there is no question Electrelane are artists. Artists simply here to thrill. [RJ Thomson]