Vessels @ Captain's Rest, 21 Feb

It’s rare to see the Captain’s Rest dancefloor filled out like it is tonight and, given the warm reception, it’s apparent that at least a few of those people are here for Glasgow epic rockers Sing-Kill-Worth. As the set progresses, their considerable volume is eclipsed by their creativity, providing half an hour of colossal sounds that are bound only by technological limitations and imagination.

Stuart Warwick takes his sound in the opposite direction, delivering a set of mournful piano ballads complemented by a voice that gleams like a crystal vase – clear, fragile and possessing a timeless elegance. The often sombre tone is offset by Warwick’s inter-song banter, displaying an engagingly dry wit and an impressively comprehensive array of phallic trivia, leaving such a lasting impression that even upon misfiring on one of his more textured endeavours he is cheered on to persevere by the crowd.

Only one thing needs said about Vessels: these guys have balls – stones the size of Texas, to be precise. Not only is latest album Helioscope a sizeable departure from their debut, they also choose to construct tonight’s set almost entirely from it, despite not having yet released it. The Trap erupts from a lengthy build-up, a whirl of complexity and percussive force made all the more visceral by the band’s energy and obvious enthusiasm. At no point do those energy levels drop or do they fail to excite, either by crushing the audience under heel as with the pounding stop-start rhythms of Art/Choke or by worming their way into their hearts as the warmly inviting Recur does.

The Helioscope-heavy set is broken up by a forceful rendition of An Idle Brain and the Devil’s Workshop before Stuart Warwick returns to the stage to contribute guest vocals to the soothing Meatman, Piano Tuner, Prostitute, toeing the line between delicacy and impact with considerable skill. Throughout the set, Vessels’ roster is constantly switching instruments, but there is no sign of adverse effects in their intricate playing style. It’s no real wonder why the floor is so packed tonight: who in their right mind would want to miss this? [David Bowes]