‘Watermelon’ is the most instant ear-penetrator. Like Sigur Ros playing The Verve’s ‘This Is Music’ (complete with tambourine) in the style of Muse, it’s gloriously big and bombastic without being pompous. By the time they get to it, they’ve overcome the frustration of both the lead guitar and lead mic failing in the first song, but still look a little tense around the edges.

Frontman Nathan Nicholson has a reserved cool about his CK model demeanour, and whilst his hairy bandmates thrash away sounding like BRMC battering the living fuck out of The Cooper Temple Clause, his shy, angelic falsetto reverberates through every soul, chilling every spine. The weary bewilderment of Jeff Buckley meeting the leery sneer of Liam, he has the raw power to choke hearts at a hundred paces. You know damn well we currently have no natural rock star henchmen in the current breed of new ‘bands’. Is everyone gonna wanna dress like some bloke from Billy Clitoris or Oceansize? You know the answer.

Sonically, their trademark is songs like ‘In Pursuit’ and confidence rebuilt, it shows. A slow burning, beautiful piano intro bursting into a pounding, psychedelic chorus with magnificent grace and mesmerising confidence. The fractured originality of Adam Harrison’s basslines compound the off-note guitar scrawls, with all their songs building to wondrously climatic crescendos. The sub-sonic breaks and bass slides are quite unlike anything you’ve heard, and intertwined with everything they are quite exquisite. They could maybe do with a change of pace at times, but the chaotic turbulence and emotional intensity make for a remarkable live show.

The band seem to be moving thankfully toward more ‘song’ based tunes. Tonight’s untitled new track is their ‘happiest’ sounding one. Close your eyes, and neon sunsets over everlasting glaciers come to mind; its spacey, romantic piano/guitar combo flooded with reverb. Tighter than a nun’s arse, they piss all over any other unsigned band you will have seen in this country and most signed ones too.

Reading being little more than a large shopping centre on a roundabout some miles out of London, much of their musical crowd mainly prefer ugly skate scene rock to go with their ugly, pierced faces. TBR create their own world and though content to be its only inhabitants, it’s a beautiful place where all are welcome. Muse were not this good this early in their career. The Boxer Rebellion have barely even begun to fuck with your minds so get your heads round it now.