Swipe!

Swipe! are certainly a new name on the Cardiff gig scene, but their frontman and writer James Chant is anything but a débutante in the Welsh capital.

Having cut his creative teeth with his first band, and local live favourites, Tommy and the Chauffeur, they then morphed into Small Victories in time to release an album with Boobytrap. Armed with the knowledge that comes with experience, one might think that despite the passing of almost three years since Chant last played his home town, combined with his current commitments as James Dean Bradfield's tour bassist, we might expect him to take the new band's first Welsh gig in his stride? Not necessarily so, but it's pleasantly gratifying to spot that certain ingredients that made Small Victories' output so guileless and vital are still present in their author tonight as Chant approaches the mic, ready to launch the next chapter.

'The Only Way To Get Found', aches with longing but, like Bambi, stands a little shaky on its feet. As it draws to a close, there's a sense of collective exhalation as the downstairs bar, filled mostly with friends and familiar faces, realises that all is still well and moving in the right direction. 'Let's Get Busy Being Born' is simple and cheerfully effective but concealed within, lies an old Chant trick of disguising wry, phlegmatic lyrics within the warmest of songs that nibble and dig at social irritations.

Bright and anthemic, 'Everyone Knows' is surely a contender for radio play in due course and inspires some merry, collective swaying from the attentive huddle pressing around the band on the performance floor. Next up is what will be the band's first single, due out next month. 'Mercy Me' runs like a well-oiled piston and scurries urgently under a calm vocal wave; it's hard to argue against the message when Chant's vulnerable, angelic voice sings, "Oh my dear, don't worry 'bout anything". Oh, go on then. If you insist.

The four-piece are settling into the show more comfortably now but although strong keyboards, drums and bass indeed add to the impact and scope of the music, it's still very clearly Chant's band and he remains the central point behind his sweetly ringing guitar and voice. 'I Hear Typewriters' again shows an endearingly idiosyncratic writing style with lyrics that flow as an untrammelled dialogue with the unconscious. Very nice indeed.

In an unexpected twist, Swipe! close the show with a song by German band Robot Kraus. 'Small Houses, Odd Cars' is edgy and rhythmic with a fascinating punch that rounds the evening off generously. Tonight's homecoming has shown a compact, more intricate framework for Chant's lovely songs in contrast to the occasionally bombastic and vibrant shows or yore. His songs still contain the spit and the venom but maybe during those three years away he has learnt better how to talk the least but say the most. Welcome home.