They stand in a straight line confronting the audience behind a multitude of synths and percussive weapons. Unlike most of their electro-pop peers the London-based 5-piece have long since kissed their 20’s goodbye, as to my surprise have most of their fans. The small gaggle of teenage girls to my right wearing at least three quarters of Topshop and dancing in a circle look fairly out of place amongst the somewhat subdued thirty-something audience.

Hot Chip arrive to rapturous applause however, punctuated by hazy drones and with the striking artwork from their most recent album ‘Made in the Dark’ looming large overhead, before launching into ‘One Pure Thought’ their latest single. Immediately heads begin nodding and toes begin tapping as the pulsing beat that is so iconic of Hot Chip’s sound seeps into the crowd and it is not long before this entrancing rhythm is compounded by crowd favourite ‘And I Was A Boy From School’, perhaps the band’s finest song which perfectly combines singer Alexis’ melancholy voice with chiming guitars and a driving snare beat, creating an altogether haunting and heartbreaking number. In fact so much so that it is when these pulsating songs subside that the gig loses its consistency. In an era when electro is dominated by the fidgety and erratic beats of pioneers like Justice, Sebastian and Daft Punk, Hot Chip adopt a very different style, with expanses of music that wash over fans in a trance-like way and reach stunning, layered climaxes. Yet while this might work with earth-shattering success at 5am in a warehouse in Berlin, in a conventional gig set-up the periods of silence between songs jars somewhat, leaving the audience feeling pulled in all different directions.

‘Shake A Fist’ a massive tune full of squealing synths and beats that shudder across the dancefloor provides some relief from the lull in excitement and it is clear that Hot Chip are very technically skilled at reproducing their music live. As expected radio-friendly hit ‘Over and Over’ breathes a new lease of life to the gig as well, sending the crowd into rhythm convulsions from the moment the lyric ‘Laid back’ is uttered.

Trying hard to divert my gaze from the quite fantastic older gentleman in front of me in a suit, sweating profusely, jumping up and down, yelping, pulling shapes and the classic ‘the-roof-is-on-fire’ dance and exhibiting a look of sheer delight at being alive, the show draws to a close. Perfunctory and slightly forced cheers for an encore ensue which Hot Chip naturally comply with and singer Alexis Taylor steps upstage to perform a gorgeous and quirky cover of Sinead O’ Conner’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ whilst blue spotlights roam the Guildhall illuminating the crowd and swaying cigarette lighters of enthusiastic smokers. Despite his slight frame Alexis has great stage presence, appearing like a neurotic member of Kraftwerk in thick-rimmed glasses and a button-down white shirt and the voice he projects is really quite magnificent. It is a soft ending to a thoroughly confusing gig and despite a thunderous response to the singles some of the show falls flat with talking from the audience even drowning out more downbeat numbers. It all feels a bit routine and with a fourth album in progress we hope that Hot Chip will find news ways to excite.