Childhood, Oslo Hackney, London, gig review: 'Quietly giddying'

Never ostentatious and pleasingly serene

Watching a Childhood gig is like being inside a Sofia Coppola film; everything seems outwardly rosy, but underneath there is a distinct tone of melancholia.

When the South London quartet first broke into the music scene in 2012, they became known for their heady, dream-like tracks that ticked all the indie boxes of the time - bouncy and blissful with soaring choruses. Their debut album, Lacuna, has more depth, and there's a sense of discontent which arguably makes for more interesting material - as illustrated at their sold-out gig at Oslo.

What makes the band unique is their languid, psychedelic instrumentals that not only demonstrate the extent of their skills, but add a woozy dream-like appeal and the audience hypnotically swayed in accordance to “Pay For Cool” and “When You Rise”. They happily bounced to “Blue Velvet” and “As I Am” and sung merrily to finale “Solemn Skies”, powerful and bright despite its sombre title.

Despite the energetic performances of the band (guitars were held over heads on numerous occasions), the mood of the packed room was serene. No part of their act was ostentatious nor as gritty as a band they have previously been compared to, the Stone Roses; what Childhood offer is a quiet giddiness that demands little of its listeners.