Ducktails @ Soup Kitchen, Manchester, 23 Aug

Though Ducktails were brought into the world as a solo project, Real Estate's Matthew Mondanile hosts tonight's show with a full band. The already intimate surrounds of Soup Kitchen lend an even cosier atmosphere to Ivy Covered House – the opening track on most recent album The Flower Lane – its dreamy, mellow pop arrangements reminiscent of a summer anthem; guitar twangs ripple through the air as the track drops into the sea of audience.

Ducktails are characteristically modest as they flow through their set, the only ornateness left to paisley shirts James May could have personally selected. Mondanile's soft and prudent vocals gloss over the music's layers with a sense of togetherness; he gives a nod to bassist Luka Usmiani, and Under Cover breezes through, with Peter Gutteridge's Planet Phrom following shortly after. Punters gently sway to rhythms by turns forlorn and jazzy as a beach-aura dissipates around the venue.

It's a painlessly well-coordinated performance, but one that ultimately fails to pack a punch. Their set is comfortably cloudy, all tranquil, fuzzy coastlines – and somewhat vacant for it, never able to veer away. Mondanile's vocals are evocative and sentimental, but his mellow, mellifluous tones appear to anaesthetise the audience somewhat more than intended. More vigour, please. [Edwina Chan]