More about: Maximo Park

When Maximo Park’s irrepressible frontman Paul Smith closes his eyes at night, it must be reassuring to the 35-year-old to know that he can rest safe in the knowledge that his is making a living practicing a profession that he was born to do.

Theatrical indie rock ‘n’ roll hi-jinks is obviously in his blood, and serenading the sold-out Kentish Town forum with his dulcet North Eastern tones appears as natural to Smith as breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

And it is the enigmatic front man that provides the most captivating visual spectacle of the evening, as Smith delights throughout with a hip shake here, a flying kick during 'Apply Some Pressure' and even a schizoid robot dance halfway through early set highlight 'Our Velocity'. The only thing that, at times, lets the effervescent Geordie five piece down is the mixing; too often Smith’s vocals are lost in the quagmire of power chords and stodgy base, rendering many of the band’s most sumptuous melodies, and subtle lyrics, simply incomprehensible.

Take for instance 'Her Name is Audre' or 'Brain Cells', which may as well have been instrumentals given that Smith’s vocals where buried deep within the Passcehndale-esque sonic sludge.

Still, whoever it was who said the old songs are the best would find substantial evidence to back up such an assertion from tonight’s show. As good as newer tracks are they cannot compare with euphoria conjured up by the alchemy of such nuggets as 'Girls Who Play Guitar', 'Limasso'l and 'Grafitti'.

Judging by tonight’s set, which also takes highlights from this year’s resurgent Too Much Information, Maximo Park appear to find themselves at a career apex; benefitting from a loyal enough following to sell out The Forum, but not perceived cutting edge enough by the music press to devote substantial column inches to when a new release rears its head.

Still, to the gathered throng such concerns are inconsequential. Having spent the best part of a decade plying their trade delivering performances such as this Maximo Park having nothing left to prove... to their fans at least.

More about: Maximo Park