Photo: WENN
Decked out with foliage and stuffed animals, bathed in yellow light - this is a stage set-up which has been home to one of the UK's most idiosyncratic bands for around 15 years now. And, with their acclaimed debut 'The Decline of...' Recently reissued, British Sea Power have deemed now the appropriate moment to celebrate the album which first, slowly but surely, began building them a loyal following.
Still, for a band always seeking to get its teeth into its next eccentric project - be it soundtracking documentaries about Britain's coastline or collaborating with brass bands - looking back at past glories seems a foreign concept. But once you accept nostalgia as an inherent part of such evenings, the best a performer can do is recreate as closely as possible what made them special in the first place.
And, it's a testament to British Sea Power that they as adept at recapturing the restless energy of openers 'Apologies to Insect Life' and 'Favours in the Beetroot Fields' as they are at the touching, plaintive 'Blackout'. Even former BSP keyboardist Eamon is back at Camden's Roundhouse tonight, out among the crowd manically bashing his drum as though he never left. Indeed, while rolling back the years they almost leave the audience behind, which is surprising for a set list which is written on the back of a 12-year-old album sleeve.
And after the crowd finally catches up for career benchmark 'Carrion' and set highlight 'Lately', one can perhaps afford BSP and hardcore fans the indulgence of several b-sides from the 'Decline...' era being aired. But while 'Spirit of St Louis' is well received, it's the high point of a slight lull in proceedings, before the band returns for an encore of singles from later albums, which have arguably equalled but never better their debut.
With an often eccentric five-album career behind them, the band's next project will be eagerly awaited, but tonight BSP leave the stage having managed the tricky business of celebrating their much-loved debut album without basking too long in its glow.
