Years & Years, Heaven, London, gig review: Chart kings give energetic but limited live performance

Inviting shrieks from infatuated audience members, Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander dances into the intro for 'Desire'.

Headlining for the first time, the band are following a strong start to 2015 as the top vote in the BBC’s Sound of… poll, and as a shortlisted act for the Brits’ Critics Choice award.

Alexander has an impressive voice, clear and boyish in the same vein as Justin Bieber or Conor Maynard; although at times it sounds over-stretched as he aims ambitiously for the higher notes.

‘King’ – as of last weekend a number one single – is reserved for the encore, with its catchy lyrics and infectious chorus stirring up the crowd one last time.

Incessantly repetitive beats are fine for a club night, and the tracks from Years & Years’ debut album – with tin drum sound effects to fuel a Caribbean vibe à la Clean Bandit – can be remixed in time for the Ibiza crowd, and blare out of open car windows as the air grows warmer.

Yet performing live, the group offers nothing in the way of additional experience, and as of yet there is little to suggest that they plan on aiming beyond a regular slot on Radio 1.