Having called time in 2014, Meursault are back, and The Lexington is a fitting venue for the launch of their first release in 5 years, I Will Kill Again. It feels intimate, despite being packed to the rafters, allowing a palpably thrilled Neil Pennycook the space he and his band need to deliver an animated performance of their new material.

They are supported by Faith Eliott, who regales twisting tales over beautiful folk strumming, before effortlessly switching gears to contribute backing vocals for Meursault.

Minor sound issues hamper the beginning of Meursault’s set, but there’s no stopping this comeback. They find their feet during a storming rendition of ‘By Gaslight’ from recent EP Simple Is Good, with Pennycook’s voice cutting powerfully through the wall of noise his band are capable of producing.

Understandably after a short hiatus, most of the attention is given to the band’s new material, as they air tracks such as ‘Belle Ami’, ‘The Mill’, and of course the title track, ‘I Will Kill Again’. As the latter picks up, Pennycook calls upon a guitar tech take his stead, freeing himself up to leave the stage to drive through the crowd microphone in hand, for a frenzied finale which leaves his amp thrown to the ground, and his glasses nowhere to be seen. Pun not intended.

In stark contrast, another highlight was I Will Kill Again’s ‘Ode To Gremlin’, which Pennycook delivers without any amplification whatsoever. He manages to hush the crowd momentarily, but they soon join in on vocals and percussion by way of stomping on the beer-soaked floor. The track focuses on heartbreak, acknowledging the well-trod ground of the subject matter, as he belts out the refrain of, “the last thing the world needs now, is another song about the fucking sea.”

They are called out for an encore, and true to form, they perform the brilliant ‘Flittin’’ from 2012’s Something For The Weakend. This gives the band a final opportunity to signal their return with another explosive performance. The song ends with Pennycook handing vocal duties to an overzealous fan in the crowd as he falls to the floor of the stage.

It’s these moments that not only make Meursault an impressive live act, but show how excited both Pennycook and their fans are about their return, leaving few doubting that they’re back stronger than ever.

In their first of two sold out London shows at The Lexington, Big Thief brought their fantastic debut album Masterpiece to life, and grabbed the opportunity to air new material in an impressive signal of what’s to come.

Before Big Thief’s headline slot, support came from the bizarre and dazzling Mega Bog. Frontwoman Erin Birgy sits between Laura Marling and Regina Spektor in terms of style, and does so with ease. Backed by complicated synths, jazz-infused licks and even gorgeous wind chimes, her wispy voice and meandering stories nestle perfectly to pack a much firmer punch than you’d first expect.

It was a tough act to follow, and appearing on stage, Adrianne Lenker & Co. of Big Thief described themselves as “overwhelmed… in a good way”, and this was palpable throughout as they flitted between Lenker meticulously delivering acoustic-folk numbers with great care, to the band driving full-throttle into rock and roll tracks such as ‘Real Love’ and ‘Masterpiece’. The contrast was stark and a delight which kept the crowd captivated throughout. 

Between each song, the sound technician was asked to make tweaks, or they’d have to pause to retune, making clear the fluctuation in the style of the tracks they were playing, and the perfection they were trying to achieve. This was no surprise from what is a noticeably tight group of musicians, though almost all attention is absorbed by Lenker. With moments of delicacy her voice leaves the audience spellbound, only to suddenly change gear, effortlessly belting notes that must have even caused a stir in the bar downstairs. 

It’s possibly hackneyed to say, but even in the heavier songs, Lenker’s powerhouse of a voice, pierced through the jarring guitar riffs and rhythm section, like a lighthouse across stormy seas; it seems to tie it all together and bring order to moments of chaos. Lenker has previously discussed the confidence that her band affords her, saying, “these guys feel like a pack of wolves at my back. They make the songs howl and bark with a fierce tenderness that gives me courage.” This was particularly clear in the new tracks which hinge on this growing confidence. 

Both Mega Bog and Big Thief are brilliantly innovative bands and ones with plenty more to offer. You can expect them to be staples of the festival scene for years to come, as they sell out even larger shows and belt out even stronger vocals.