Having been crammed into the tiny walkway outside, the queue begins to move. The bouncer checks my bag, throws away a bottle that wouldn’t harm a cat and I move on through the venue. A familiar tale.

The headliners are The Presets, a band from Australia that – given they mingle through the crowd without arrest - must be far more popular there than they are here. InnerPartySystem, however, seem more interested in selling themselves. Posters are around every corner, mailing lists are shoved in your face by functionaries like a charity worker on commission and even balloons are left on the tables. But half the venue is empty and it’s not until the band are part way through their set that their live energy is absorbed.

The deep electronic bass lines and 80s-influenced beats are dance-friendly but after two or three tracks my ankle isn’t moving. Without a gap between the songs my mind begins blending the tracks together into one large anthem and just wish the drummer would try something new rather than hit his kit as hard as he can.

Most new bands aren’t trying new things, yet here is a band that is looking at diversifying a sound and I’m still not impressed. The potential to produce something new and appealing is there, but a practice room full of keyboards and weird effects will only make songs sound interesting if the track is already well written.

Matt Challis