Plastic Mermaids

The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth

The Isle of Wight’s Plastic Mermaids are tough to pigeonhole – and that’s just the way it should be. With a dash of Grandaddy’s woozy folktronica and wonky synths, a pinch of Sigur Ros’ post-rock, a soupcon of The Flaming Lips’ psychedelia and a love of instrument swapping that they share with fellow islanders The Bees, the five-piece’s sound is an arresting mish-mash of styles and genres. They are masters of the slow-build, often starting with a simple piano or guitar line before piling on the instruments and effects. Recent single 1996 is an effective opener – a real earworm. Brothers Douglas and Jamie Richards trade lead vocals – Douglas’ warmer tones a counterpoint to Jamie’s brittle falsetto. By the third song, Jamie has clambered on top of the equipment cases at the side of the stage, playing his guitar with a violin bow as the cases wobble precariously. Ostensible last song, Saturn is an expansive, explosive piece. Guest vocalist Flo Bradbury delivers a powerhouse performance that is practically operatic, winning a much-deserved cheer, before the song climaxes with a mutantdisco blowout. They encore with a new track, Luliuli, and it’s another beautiful slow-burner. It all bodes very well for their debut album Suddenly Everyone Explodes, due out in May. In a just world, they’ll be soundtracking the summer.

CHRIS BROOM