Teleman - Islington Assembly Hall, London 20/05/14

The London four piece, who rose from the ashes of Pete and the Pirates, have been perfecting their laid back indie on the road with the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Maximo Park. From the considerable radio play of single “Christina”, they’ve carved a happy niche somewhere between Metronomy and alt-J by favouring dreamy harmonies and unabashed retro leanings as uniform.

Despite allowing some of the warm sound to drift away, the Islington Assembly Hall did feel like a well-chosen establishment for Teleman’s vintage vibe as the peeling decadence added to the atmosphere. With everyone dressed the part, there were spectacles, spotlights, shirts and synths all around.

Yet from the opening of “Mainline”, it was the guitar that stood out the best in the band’s live show. The right side of jangly, without over complicating it, real enjoyment could be found in the simplicity of it all. With “Breakfast” having been produced by Bernard Butler of Suede fame, the band have clearly learnt a thing or two about working with six strings.

A transition into “In Your Fur” showed that Teleman are utterly consistent in their trademark silky sound, but the vocals put across by singer Thomas Saunders did manage to stake a distinction between similar songs.

It was “Christina” that charmed the most, with the soaring yet minimal melodies sweeping the audience up in hypnotic haze. It was a shame that the brass from the album version of “Lady Low” was not recreated live, but such a grandiose treatment was always going to be a challenge out of the studio.

“Skeleton Dance” showcased a more upbeat side to the band, with the drums coming to the forefront. Movement and jerks erupted throughout as the hook pulled people in. Saunders’ high vocals did crack in places, but the David Bowie-esque influence of “23 Floors Up” made up for it with its epic build and power ballad chords.

Closing with crowd-pleaser “Steam Train Girl”, Teleman proved themselves a band with a distinct appeal. They’ve struck a fine balance between sparse and spectacular, allowing them to explore bigger sounds as well as strip things back. What was lost in the space was made up for in the band’s evident ability to write and deliver undeniably enjoyable songs.

Setlist

Mainline
In Your Fur
Travel Song
Monday Morning
Cristina
Lady Low
Skeleton Dance
23 Floors Up
Redhead Saturday
Not In Control
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Steam Train Girl

• Photo by Sara Amroussi-Gilissen. See the full gallery here.