Neon Indian – Heaven, London 16/11/11

Last time Neon Indian were due to play in London, in early August, their plans were scuppered by groups of feral youths on the rampage – or rather, as it turned out, the hollow threat of such activity.

That night, while they huddled behind a massive cushion somewhere, contemporaries Washed Out proceeded unabashed only a mile away – yet failed to grasp the moment with a flaccid showing that in turn deflated the dream-pop thrills of their Within and Without album.

So that’s the line in the sand for Neon Indian, and with a slightly inferior sophomore longplayer to promote in ‘Era Extrana’ expectations are suitably cautious. Yet any doubts go out of the window within minutes of their arrival, with mainman Alan Palomo cutting a sharp figure centrestage surrounded by his cohorts, and with Palomo and keyboard player Leanne Macomber between them even making the visuals not at all unsexy, it must be said.

To the subject matter we’re supposed to be reviewing (cough): New album opener ‘Heart Attack’ and lead single ‘Fall Out’ sound as resplendent as ever, with added zing live, but whereas on wax they’re the standouts the remainder of the ‘Era Extrana’ tracks aired tonight flourish and are just as illuminating. The dynamics are immaculate, and as a spectacle they’re gripping, with Palomo’s leather jacket, floppy curly mop and moustache suitably tailored to his constant animation and infectious boogie.

There’s also an exceptional light show, but this is a music website, so such peripherals, however startling, don’t warrant further mention – and certainly not when the music and performance is such a revelation. There’s not a dull moment in all honesty, and they evoke vivid memories of their festival-stealing Green Man set in 2010, suggesting their impact then was due to more than just the excesses of the occasion.

Of course, favourites from debut ‘Psychic Chasms’ are present and very welcome, but the recent output shows its true worth tonight, and that’s the most telling. That and how invigorating chill-wave – if that’s what we’re still calling it – can be in a live context.. ut Neon Indian have the material, the panache and the suss to comfortably outlast such a fad – if they haven’t done so already indeed.