Kaito – live at London ICA 5th Jan 2006

Kaito look knackered. Not just i've-had-a-long-day-at-the-call-centre tired: properly exhausted, not all that well and, from this angle at least, not a little desperate. Given their long and unreasonably tricky journey to still-haven't-quite-cracked-itville, it's hardly surprising, but it's nonetheless disquieting. Singer Nikki, still commanding despite now being virtually non-existently thin, screams her way dutifully through live staple 'Should I' MySpace favourite 'Try Me Out', and new tracks including '2 Say', but Kaito's hearts and minds are elsewhere. Come on folks, look lively: there's a party round the corner.

Charlie Ivens