“We’re not very organised,” says Luke Horton by way of apology as his guitar change becomes a minor delay early on in the trio’s hometown set. Points for politeness aside, he’s obscuring the truth. By the time they rip into ‘Pace or the Patience’ it’s obvious that Love of Diagrams are not merely organised, they’ve got a sense of understanding that’s somehow both economical and inspirational. Monika Fikerle’s percussive clatter is clipped and propulsive, bassist Antonia Sellbach drives her onwards and Horton squeezes out sparks even as he holds his instrument high enough to recall the glory days of Herman’s Hermits.

As demonstrated on their second album, 2007’s Mosaic, their forte is teasing out meaning from the snap of lines Sellbach and Horton exchange on vocals. Under the influence of repetition and vigour individual phrases attain obsessive cadence and the shadowed meaning can either set off warning bells or tempt the pleasures of the listener. Perhaps what was most impressive is that having mastered that route, there are now hints of something more. Anchored by pulmonary bassline, the first of several new songs in the set was doused in dread, with Horton squalling out oceanic noise like a post-punk Kevin Shields. As ever, they’re on to something.

by Craig Mathieson