A Massive Attack

MASSIVE ATTACk, O2 Academy, Glasgow

THICK clouds of white smoke float above a blacked-out stage filled with a mass of keyboards, mixing decks, guitars and drum kits.

Above, eerie flashes of red and white light beam through huge metal blinds offset perfectly by the haunting electronics of opener Bulletproof Love.

When Massive Attack mainmen Grant Marshall and Robert "3D" Del Naja finally amble onstage to join their backing band for a seamless link into Heartcliffe Star, they're greeted by a wave of cheers

With its menacing textured beats, thumping drums and monotone vocals, this sneak preview of the Bristol outfit's long-awaited fifth album proves there's a lot to look forward to.

Initially due for release before this gig, the LP appears to be progressing at glacially slow speeds . . . and most fans here won't have had a chance to hear the four-track Splitting The Atom EP which is released as a taster tomorrow.

All the same, the crowd respond passionately to the seven new songs unveiled tonight, in a mesmerising set, that features guest vocals from reggae veteran Horace Andy, tour support Martina Topley-Bird and Safe From Harm chanteuse Debbie Miller.

The Jamaican legend performs on three show-stopping tracks - Splitting The Atom as a two-hander with Grant, solo on Angel and another storming newbie, 16 Seeter.

It's packed with dramatic distorted guitars, heavy bass riffs and floor-shaking beats, intensified by the frantic countdown clock-style graphics and orange flashing lights.

Future Proof provides more spine-tingling moments with its electro-trance flurries full of hypnotic guitars, organs and thundering drums.

During the instrumental sections Robert turns away from the crowd and dances, seemingly transfixed by the eye-watering light show. Such intensity is carried through on the dark electro grooves of Inertia Creeps, which is accompanied by a stream of thought- provoking graphics on the Big Brother-style invasion of CCTV.

The visuals are equally spectacular when Horace and Grant lead the band through the dark, deeply trippy electro of Splitting The Atom. Most people are captivated by long streaming beams of white light that stretch to the back rows and rotate in time to the beat. The reaction is typically rapturous, prompting Robert to beam: "Glasgow you've given us so much LOVE. Thank you!"

Martina's angelic vocals conjure up a chilled-out mood on the drum and bass epic Babel and on the new album tracks Red Light and Psyche. On the classic Teardrop, her frail vocals float over a serene soundscape of chimes and woodwind samples - giving rise to rousing cheers from the crowd. Meanwhile Debbie - who sang on the original - saves it until the encore to belt out the band's best-known track, Unfinished Sympathy, but is strangely underwhelming in comparison to the earlier intensity.

In the end, the climax turns out to be stunning versions of Marrakesh and Karmacoma. Stunning stuff.

ELLIE CADDELL

MOBO AWARDS, SECC, Glasgow

THEY came, they rapped . . . and they conquered.

Armed with a series of eye- watering light shows, super-slick production and some sharp choreography, the cream of the UK's hip hop scene joined forces to deliver a real spectacular.

"All I really wanted was to have some fun," insisted Tinchy Stryder, opening the bash with his hit No1.

And though it didn't quite happen for him - coming empty-handed in the honours apparently led to a dressing room tantrum - everyone else had a BALL.

The electric atmosphere in the arena cranked up a notch when X Factor boyband JLS took over for a romp through Beat Again.

But while the girls were screaming for the Aston Marvin outfit, the guys weren't left out. Kelly Rowland, who joined David Guetta for a breathless performance of When Love Takes Over, wowed while Keri Hilson, who hosted as well as delivering an electrifying version of new single Energy, was on sensational form.

Chipmunk - who edged out Eminem and Kanye West to lift the Best Hip Hop Act trophy - borrowed dance troupe Flawless for a wicked take on Diamond Rings.

But it'd be hard to beat the musical finale when Bashy, Tinchy, Ironik and Egypt joined N-Dubz, Frankmusik and VV Browm to premiere the new War Child single I Got Soul.

Will they be back next year? Definitely MOBO . . .

JAMES DOUGLAS

BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB, King Tut's, Glasgow

THE wide grin across Jack Steadman's face says it all: he really loves playing in Scotland.

And the huge smiles on the faces of the sell-out crowd here at King Tut's to see Britain's hottest new band tell a similar story - this is a regular love-in. And rightly so. The London quartet have been creating a real buzz with the sharp, angular indie of their stunning debut album I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose and on tracks like the heart-on-the-sleeve epic Always Like This and the brittle, spindling Dust Of The Ground it's easy to see why.

Tonight, the band bounce around the stage with the enthusiasm their songs deserve and the crowd's reaction to brilliantly inventive cuts like Evening Morning and Pedestal is more than equal. This doesn't feel like a gig, more like a joyous party . . . and it's only just begun.

JAMIE CROSSAN

SPEECH DEBELLE, The Arches, Glasgow

ROCKETED to fame last month after clinching the Mercury Prize for her long-overlooked debut album Speech Therapy, the south London rapper clearly hasn't had much time to get used to playing gigs.

Though her rhymes about hostel life, rotten bosses and absentee dads are perfectly delivered over her three-piece band's beautifully jazzy backing, there are enough awkward pauses and embarrassed silences here to script an entire season of The Office. But when the music catches fire, as on the great, reggae-tinged groove of Buddy Love, Go Then Bye and the stonking Bad Boy, her talent is unmistakable.

TIM BARR

COPY HAHO, The Tunnels, Aberdeen

STILL unsigned despite radio sessions and some prestigious support slots - including one with lo-fi heroes Sebadoh - Joe Hearty and his band could still be the first band from Stonehaven to have a shot at commercial success.

With tracks like The Last Dash and You Are My Coalmine coming on like The Strokes mixed with legendary indie outfit Pavement, the future certainly looks bright. Rikki Will's ultra-tight drumming gives songs like Pulling Push Ups a solid edge that many more successful acts might find hard to match.

At times, they wear their supercool influences - New York new wave icons Television and Chicago noise rockers Shellac among them - on their sleeves. They finish, for example, with the thrill-a-minute Demons And Gods, which manages to evoke US indie pioneers Guided By Voices too. For all that, they do hint at a unique sound that could yet put them on the map.

DAVE CRAIG

WILD BEASTS, The Arches, Glasgow

SINGER Hayden Thorpe rarely opens his eyes throughout this short but sweet gig, no doubt lost in the Kendal band's mesmerising, brilliantly melodic sound.

Most of tonight's set, including thrilling opener The Funpowder Plot, is drawn from the four- piece's incredible new album Two Dancers, which has transformed them from left-of-centre eccentrics to current darlings of the indie scene.

And in wildly ambitious, off-the-wall anthems like We've Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues and All The King's Men, it's not hard to see why. They mix the pop know- how of early Franz with the dramatic experimental flair of The Associates. Swapping instruments and singing duties, Thorpe (left) and co-frontman Tom Fleming weave magic from guitar lines, piano chords and vocals.

There's a dip back to the past with first single Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants but tonight's highlight is the majestic Hooting And Howling. Ace.

TIM BARR

THE KITTYCAT DOLLS, Classic Grand, Glasgow

THRILLING with raunchy Vegas showgirl moves and sexy outfits, the five members of this Pussycat Dolls tribute act belt out hits like When I Grow Up, Jai-Ho, Beep, Buttons and Don't Cha to a packed house.

Just like the real thing, they take turns on lead vocals and gyrate their way through a set that includes covers of Dolls' best friends Lady Gaga (Paparazzi) and Britney Spears (Womanizer).

In true Pussycats style, they also showcase an eye-popping array of bras, hot pants and knee-high boots during their SIX costume changes. There are times when the similarities aren't as obvious - it's not clear which one of these girls takes on Nicole Schezinger's role of bandleader, for instance.

But new recruit Fern Lesanni's sensational vocals on the Nina Simone classic Feeling Good and Chloe Ferns' impressive acrobatics during Taking Over The World's dance-off make it entertaining all the same.

ELLIE CADDELL

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