JD Salinger claimed he was a paranoid in reverse who suspected people of plotting to make him happy. The Concretes seem to be gripped by the same concern, as they come on stage and carefully eliminate any traces of a smile.

This is no rock posturing, though - the Swedish band of three women and five men play warm, gently rousing folky songs, which are enthusiastically lapped up by the audience. Their music brings to mind the progressive sweetness of Stereolab or Juana Molina. Yet when it comes to a stare-off, the band are determined to win.

From their forthcoming second album they play Change in the Weather, which is apt, since a faulty air conditioning vent is pumping a gale into the venue - people are tightening their scarves around their necks and shivering.

"If you need a friend," sings the elfin Victoria Bergsman, on older favourite New Friend, looking like she doesn't even need food, let alone amity. But there's something very sexy about a band who manage to be both cold and warm at the same time, like Joy Division or the Pet Shop Boys.

On their new material, the singing roles are shared more than previously, although the band still seems strangely divided by having brunettes at the front of the stage and blondes at the back. Lisa Milberg, the drummer, is brought into the limelight to sing a duet with Romeo Stodart of the Magic Numbers during the encore. But when two more of his band come on stage, she retreats, as the stage is flooded with a mass of brown hair - and smiles.