Traditionally, not much space is dedicated to support bands in reviews. M83 ably demonstrate tonight exactly why that is, with their remarkably dull, posing electronica and dense layers of wailing guitar leaving the crowd rather cold.

In a way, this sets the stage perfectly for The Secret Machines; the grumbling masses are immediately knocked sideways by this sonically adventurous take on psychedelic pop-rock. Taking to a stage bathed in enough U.V. light to fake-tan everyone between here and Didcot, they dive straight into recent single 'Sad and Lonely'. "Does it feel like those around want you to die?" they sombrely enquire. "Well, you're alive," they reassure us.

Whilst on record the Flaming Lips/Mercury Rev influences are all too obvious, their live sound is significantly beefed up - at times sounding as powerful as My Bloody Valentine, as richly melodic as Mogwai, while also fumbling with the pretty musings of The Psychedelic Furs.

Forthcoming single 'The Road Leads Where It's Led' is wonderful, sounding like Kasabian could, if they had a library card. The fact is, despite barely a word of thanks being uttered from band to audience all night, they barely put a foot wrong. Set-closing epics 'First Wave Down' and 'Nowhere Again' shake the place to its very core, while the brotherly bond between frontmen Brandon and Benjamin Curtis is there for all to see. If they can keep up this pace, The Secret Machines won't remain a secret for much longer.

Rob Barker