“A hundred dogs with dogs. With a guy singing out of tune over them”, that’s how Jape describe their sound on MySpace. After watching their set at Topman’s Secret gig in Black Box (Belfast), I’d describe their sound as more… revolutionary.

Never before have such a bunch of well-groomed and stylish people been in the same room. The intimate venue provided the perfect opportunity for the audience to witness the birth of a new sound - original, melodic and pure.

Jape is built from three guys, but you’d be forgiven for thinking they numbered in the dozens with the complexity of the sound. Original lyrics and some quirky styling keeps the band from being generic – swooping from electro trippiness to nu folk. The track ‘Floating’ is everything the band are about, and the standout track of the gig - definitely one to make the hairs on the neck stand up.

The band will be back in Belfast in August for Belsonic. New album, ‘Ritual’, can be found in stores now, well worth investing in.

SHANE TODD

P.S. Topman's got a sale on now. Have a peek.