Luxembourg

t's always a disheartening trek to the Academy. Winding through Angel's vast shopping centre, past the dreaded Golden Arches of Mickey D's, the ubiquitous Starbuck's, right at the Gap and up the escalator 'round the corner from M&S, the soullessness of the modern mall is guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of even the most hardy gig-goer.

So it's with grand relief that, exchanging the Xmas consumerism surrounding the venue for the Carling sponsored intimacy of the venue, we are greeted by the punkn’roll presence of The Priscillas.

Straddling, and occasionally high-kicking, the space between Transvision Vamp and The Buzzcocks, frontwoman Jen preens and puckers her way through some admirable slices of '50s inspired trash pop.

Backed by a trio of hairsprayed John Waters-star lookalikes pounding out primal riffola on tunes like the B-Movie brilliant ‘All My Friends Are Zombies' and stompalong ‘Winner’, Jen leads her four woman army past the poor sound and right through the complacency of a Tuesday night London crowd to achieve a glamorous victory.

Luxembourg are a far more intricate, delicate proposition. From tight-suited vocalist and faux-Lothario DAVID to their so-cool-he-almost-looks-stupid keyboard boy Alex, they evidently hold their carefully calculated image close to their hearts, as well they should.

While it's a Pulp/Gainsbourg inspired look, their music finds its roots in the mini-epic kitchen sinking of '90s underachievers Jack and the frustrated passion of early Smiths.

This is an English band indeed. So despite influences mounted on tailored sleeves, there is an awful lot to admire about Luxembourg.

David’s voice is a wonder, delivering vicious, knowing asides in classic chanteur style. When combined with his twitchy, overtly expressive stage manner, we have ourselves a true performer.

From the tainted glory of recent single ’What The Housewives Don’t Tell You' to immaculately awkward closer ‘Close-Cropped’, this is a band entwined in its own world of sexual confusion, everyday disappointment and determination to overcome mundanity. We are welcomed easily into that world by virtue of the band's note-perfect and technically masterful performance.

Entranced by this all too rare display of Wildean pop, the audience appears to be dimly aware that it's experienced something out of the ordinary, and that's some achievement in this place.

Luxembourg, then. A band of grace, wit and performance, with an all too real chance of making many more dejected punters part of their world.

It's just a shame that Carling leaves a taste in the mouth as wretched as the McDonald's opposite…

THE PRISCILLAS support The Rezillos at the LA2 2nd December.

www.thepriscillas.com

LUXEMBOURG play the Metro, Oxford St, 9th December.

www.luxembourgweb.co.uk