The curse of many a young band is to be compared to others. But there are worse boxes to share than that of 2006's most acclaimed band. If you typed the words Arcade Fire and Denmark into Google, you'd find them in most reviews so far written about this five-piece from Odense, but maybe they should consider it a compliment. And while there's no denying singer/guitarist Thomas Fagerlund's high-pitched voice bears a resemblance to Win Butler's, and the pounding, fanfare-like songs he writes with fellow frontman Soren Corneliussen do beg comparison, live in a small club in Camden last night, the plot thickened.

Visually, for one thing, they looked more like a ska punk band circa 1979, with Fagerlund's pork pie hat, Corneliussen's mod haircut and guitarist Daniel Skjoldmose's rancid old vest

Meanwhile, the sculpted racket of three guitars suggested more inspiration from the likes of Sonic Youth and the Pixies. Yet the whole package came together in grand style, producing a sound that was delicate and powerful in equal measure, based around naggingly memorable pop songs that oozed a bitter-sweet euphoria.

If we must continue the comparisons, there were often echoes of Flaming Lips' wonkily colourful melodies, especially in the chiming anthemic single Smother + Evil = Hurt. If you didn't listen closely you'd imagine this was a straight-up celebration of blossoming romance and carefree youth.

Yet their whooping ebullience on stage belied lyrics such as "If you're listening you'll hear the world's inner decay". Oh well, if we really are all doomed, then, quite honestly, what a lovely way to burn.