Cloud Control, XOYO, London

Cloud Control seem to be the ‘in’ thing at the moment; raising many an eyebrow at SXSW and boasting impressive support slots for the likes of Foo Fighters and Noah And The Whale, a sold out show in Shoreditch industrial basement XOYO doesn’t exactly damage the street-cred.

As soon as they take to the stage the rich pounding of the kick drum to start ‘Meditation Song #2’ fills the room, followed by wistful harmonies and some hippy style tambourine shaking. The driving rhythm section underpins it with a rock feel rather than folk or pop. The vocal harmonies are impressive, and central to the bands pleasant dreamy sound. Although clearly well rehearsed, there’s an unpretentious, almost spontaneous feel to the performance.

They are, however, a band of harmonies rather than melodies. By the fourth song in, ‘My Fear’, you begin to wonder if they’re a bit of a one trick pony: great fun to bop around to, but not enough between the songs to really distinguish them from each other. Just as that doubt starts to raise its head, they change the feel with ‘Just For Now’. Their folkier sound really starts to come through, with a stunningly authentic 60’s feel that brings to mind long drives through arid deserts.

Watching Cloud Control, you are watching an entire band performance. There is no over-inflated frontman ego in sight; everyone on the stage has an equal part to play. The hippy sound is not just borne of clever vocal arrangements with a bit of reverb whacked on top, but a genuine feeling that these guys are playing music that expresses who they are.

One of the highlights of the show is the somewhat darker sounding ‘Into The Line’. Sadly absent from the forthcoming album, it has hints of 90’s grunge and brings to mind early Jane’s Addiction - no bad thing. The familiar ‘There’s Nothing In The Water I Can’t Fight’ has the whole room singing along and the band jumping about all over stage. The night finishes rather abruptly after the final track, the vocally strong ‘Ghost Story’.

There’s something real about Cloud Control. They’ve timed it right too - their pretty, psychedelic harmonies and ballsy rhythm section mean that they are perfect to dance bare-foot to at a festival. Definitely a soundtrack for the summer.