By Erin Kubicki

Proud Galleries, Camden, Wednesday 20th January 2010

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The 80-odd people standing in Camden’s Proud Gallery are confused:”Do I like this? Or… Should I like this?” They’re watching the distinctively leftfield East London three-piece Micachu & The Shapes. Collectively, the audience try to figure out whether Micachu are the best new band of 2009 – or one of the worst.

Boys and girls are quick to lust after the infectious pop pearls thrown down from the stage and writhe in glee as addictive melodies conduct them to dance. But Micachu isn’t an easy lover. She pulls away, ending the sweet indie romance with a cruel measure of off-key noise. Halted in their dancing shoes, the crowd are left wanting more: more melody and more harmonies, that is. You want to like Micachu’s originality, but the hunt for those elusive 30 seconds of racket-free pleasure gets tiresome. We’re left searching for a diamond that is lost in a coal mine of experimental noise, pro-tools bleeps and feedback. Micachu’s off-beat set does yield album favourites “Lips”, “Golden Phone” and “Eat Your Heart”, which stand out as improbable gems in a makeshift set list. But soon enough, frontwoman Mica Levi snarls for the last time and its over. Hot or not? We’re still undecided.