Thursday 03/06/11 Fleet Foxes @ Hammersmith Apollo, London

The starry skyscape of lights which intermittently danced across the ornate walls of the Hammersmith Apollo were apt.

Considering the array of celestial vocals a jam-packed and increasingly sweaty audience were treated to on the last capital date of the Portland-sextet's brief UK tour, it was appropriate a display of other worldliness greeted some of their majestic, layered folk.

Blending a spine-tingling fusion of harmonies with a baffling mix of musical instruments, it was humbling at times, to see just how talented the beardy six-piece actually are.

In town for the third of three shows to promote their sophomore offering, Helplessness Blues, a hushed crowd were treated to the majority of both of their albums, which reached a crescendo in the encore... but more of that later.

Making a tentative, intriguing start with The Cascades and Grown Ocean, softly-spoken frontman Robin Pecknold's dextrous vocal range gradually began to take hold.

Powered on by lank-haired drummer Joshua Tillman, who shares more than a passing resemblance to Mick Fleetwood in his pomp in both appearance and style, by the time Mykonos was aired the crowd were in raptures.

Swiftly followed by the booming Your Protector and majestic White Winter Hymnal, it made for stirring stuff indeed.

Fleet Foxes' use of imagery, arguably the best since folk forefather Paul Simon, is a delight, but when elevated by four-strong, whip-tight harmonies - it really was something to behold.
And so to the aforementioned encore.

When a fan pleaded for the plaintive Oliver James, he got his wish sparking a spontaneous handclap - the only real crowd participation of the whole night.

The show was brought to a close by a searing rendition of the second album's title track, which blends the melancholy, yet hopefully lyrics the band are so refined at penning, with undulating melodies and a soaring refrain.

The only criticism I could level was the absence of the gorgeous Someone You'd Admire from the setlist, but it was a minor quibble.

The Foxes visits to these isles may be fleeting, but by golly are they fantastic.