Years And Years - The Palo Santo Tour

If you listened to some of the songs in the current singles chart you might be under the impression that pop had lost its spark and vitality. Years and Years are what pop music should be all about: colourful, fun and with great tunes.

In lead singer Olly Alexander they have one of the most charismatic singers around. The current tour plays some of the biggest venues they have headlined so far. It is a big production and one that they relish in - it felt like this was where they always wanted to be.

As Alexander appears at the top of a flight of steps centre stage he slowly walks down flanked by 4 dancers and the best pop party of the year has begun.

There is a female drummer, two backing singers who look like they have time travelled from a 1970's soul revue and in the middle of it all are the 3 members of Years and Years in a kaleidoscope of sound and colour.

Sanctify exemplifies how the trio have moved on from their debut album with the songs now evolving into a deeper side to them. Alexander dances with the 4 dancers, the music appears to flow through his body and his theatrical background holds him in good stead.

Eyes Shut sees the sold out audience taking over the track as they sing so loudly you might just hear them this side of the Pennines. Desire sees Alexander practicing some dance moves that owe a little to Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake whilst Hallelujah is jubilant gem.

The title track of the new album, Palo Santo has Alexander rising up on a podium as his outfit flows below him and the dress flows over the steps, bringing to mind the closing first half of Joseph and his Amazing Techocolour Dreamcoat.

As the band encore with King, their debut hit, stadium shows next summer would easily be in their reach. For 75 minutes the world had seemed a better place and one of the best British bands of recent years had proved what we have all been missing.