When Hot Chip emerged from South London eight years ago, the more sceptical among us may have dismissed them as simply a 'band of the moment' that would fail to harness a loyal fan-base.
This theory has, however, proved to be one that was completely unfounded.
After packing out venues across the nation, they this week closed the tour very much on 'home turf' with two sold out dates at Brixton academy.
The second night begins well as support duties are expertly taken care of by one of 2012's hottest acts, Django Django.
The mercury-nominees have the 5000 strong crowd up and dancing from the off as they rattle through tracks from their self-titled debut album.
Their infectious indie riffs and effortless harmonisation are a treat with stand-out hit 'Default' a particular highlight- a near perfect warm up for the evening's headliners.
Hot Chip take to the stage to rapturous applause and do not disappoint. Before the audience even had chance to react to bass-heavy opener 'Shake a Fist', the band seamlessly launch into 2006 single 'And I was a Boy From School'.
They are joined on stage by long-term friend, Grovesnor, for the first portion of the set. Not that much of the audience notice through the impressive strobe display that beams from the stage throughout.
The roof is then blown off the venue as another smooth medley of 'One Life Stand' and 'Night and Day' is followed by an utterly euphoric rendition of 'Over and Over'.
As the set takes a turn towards some Hot Chip's more lo-fi numbers, the fascinating juxtapostion of Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard's vocal styles encapsulate the audience.
It has been a busy year for Goddard in particular. As well as the release of Hot Chip's 'In Our Heads', he has unveiled his first album with side project The 2 Bears, and put out a host of remixes.
But if anyone was suspicious that this was a sign of detachment from Hot Chip, they would have been immediately disproved. The band fully embrace the arrival of vocalist Valentina as they perform Goddard's solo hit, 'Gabriel'.
"This is only the second time we have done this" Goddard warns as the first chords of 'Gabriel' pipe up, but it matters not as the rendition receives perhaps the biggest cheer of the night.
'Hold On' and guaranteed crowd-pleaser 'Ready For the Floor' bring the main set to an exhilarating close, and the noise is deafening as guitarist, Al Doyle informs the crowd that the second night at Brixton has been "slightly more fun".
A trio of disco balls are lowered from the ceiling and glisten from the back of the stage as Hot chip return for an encore.
Despite a relatively low profile start to the encore with 2012 album track, 'Motion Sickness', Taylor then instantly raises the temperature as he submerges into the front row of the audience.
The set is brought to a massive crescendo with a huge-sounding version of the house-infused 'I Feel Better', and new single 'Don't Deny Your Heart'.
5000 pairs of hands are left aloft as the band leave the stage and signal the end of a homecoming gig that not only lived up to expectations, but far surpassed them.
.jpg)
