Dirty Projectors @ Cabaret Voltaire, 25 Apr

David Longstreth is clearly Dirty Projectors' guiding light, both on paper with his fluid grab-bag of ideas, as well as on-stage, as furtive glances for nods of approval are directed at him throughout. But the rest of the band are no mere stooges, instead proving to be something of a bountiful source of secret weaponry, as if Longstreth has cunningly lured some unseen foe onto open ground before unleashing a ‘me and this army’ battle cry. The pitter-patter pixie-like vocals of Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian along with Brian Mcomber’s relentlessly creative drum fills draw attention away time and time again. Longstreth remains suitably oblivious, though you’d hardly expect him to care anyway. It’s pretty much the blueprint for the night – snatches of pop brilliance from the four corners, with some rather onerous hikes en route. Dirty Projectors are not a band you’d want to listen to on an empty stomach, but tonight they offer just enough sustenance.