Django Django @ The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 12 Dec

How do you give a fresh lease of life to songs that perhaps haven’t quite connected in the way your previous hits did? That’s the challenge facing Django Django as they hit British shores after an autumn down under and on the European festival circuit. Initially released as four EPs, their most recent record, Off Planet, roped in some famous friends like Self Esteem’s Rebecca Lucy Taylor and singer-songwriter Jack Peñate, but seemed to struggle on streaming platforms and ended the year absent from the best of lists.

Perhaps this was a consequence of the strange rollout – EPs don’t allow for the focused press campaign of a conventional album, while remaining a little unwieldy compared to a hit single. Still, this evening’s show suggests it might be time to give it another spin, because on tonight’s form the quartet are just as catchy, cheerful and warm-spirited as ever.

Singer and guitarist Vincent Neff might have the fringe-moustache combo of a young Begbie but he’s an entertaining frontman, reminiscing about visiting The Liquid Room with his sister as a wide-eyed 15-year-old, while drummer David Maclean’s tight and inventive drumming ensures the band never fall into the same groove for long. 

Early hits like the space-rock-meets-skiffle of Default are still fan faves but the remarkable thing is how consistent and melodically generous so many of these songs are. Since Franz Ferdinand, few bands can claim to have written so many indie-pop gems. 

Image: Django Django @ The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 12 Dec by Kate Johnston

There’s plenty to keep a live audience engaged too, whether it’s the band swapping instruments for a foot-shuffling version of Daft Punk’s Around the World or a blast of The Beatles’ Tomorrow Never Knows thrown into the middle of an extended mix of their own songs. There’s even time for an even newer track: Somebody’s Reality, which channels the open-hearted acoustic guitar psychedelia of The Coral.

With their huge planet banner, they’re obviously proud of these new songs, and cast into the mix alongside some old favourites, the likes of Dumdrum and Slipstream hold up remarkably well, pushing forward in subtly adventurous ways while retaining the melodic core at the heart of the band.

By the hour mark, Neff is covered in a sheen of sweat as his bandmate Tommy Grace bashes a gigantic tambourine. They’ve worked hard and the audience is all-in, singing along to the likes of WOR and Silver Rays. Off Planet may have struggled a little on lift-off but Django Django still belong in indie-pop’s upper stratosphere.