Caribou's Bristol appearance had been a long time coming. Initially due to take place pre-pandemic, it was later rescheduled on numerous occasions as changing restrictions scuppered plans.
The wait was so long in fact that demand for the show grew to the extent Dan Snaith, the mastermind behind the project, was forced to add a second date.
And those who were in attendance at either of the two consecutive nights at the O2 Academy this week will no doubt tell you that the wait was very much worth it, as the Canadian producer at the helm of the outfit demonstrated just why he's regarded as one of the finest around.
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With a PhD in Mathematics, it's perhaps no wonder that Dan Snaith knows how to expertly craft a song. The majority of his tracks might not seem that complex or technical on paper, but they're impeccably produced and build in the perfect way, making them a joy to behold on record and especially in a live environment.
This knack for songwriting, coupled with a setlist equally as well paced and a dazzling light show, makes a Caribou performance just the kind of euphoric, transportive experience we all need after the struggles of the pandemic.
The O2 Academy was converted into a super-club filled with arena-sized dance anthems, multicoloured laser beams and blinding strobe lights as Snaith, flanked closely by his trio of backing musicians, unleashed banger after banger on the buoyant crowd.
Many of the biggest hits from Snaith's glittering, decade-spanning back catalogue all made the cut, with the unmistakable, pummelling Odessa from 2010 album Swim winning the crowd over early on.
Another highlight was Our Love, the title track of the 2014 LP, which meanders initially before transforming into an almighty house track that makes the O2 on a Wednesday evening feel like Motion in the early hours of a Saturday. Snaith lends his vocal talents to Sun, repeating the song's title over and over as the song bubbles along underneath. The song is followed by a quite brilliant instrumental section which allows each of the band members to show off their talents, as Snaith watches on from the wings, just as impressed as everyone else.
No matter what the tempo, Snaith always seems completely in control, like a teacher conducting his classroom of unruly children with ease. He frequently praises the crowd and seems like he's loving every minute of it, despite the fact he's been in the game for almost 20 years, but it's all underpinned by meticulous musicianship and a close understanding between him and his band.
Unsurprisingly it's the faultless Can't Do Without You that is wheeled out for the encore - arguably Caribou's best work - but its predictability doesn't make the finale any less memorable, with members of the crowd up on their friends' shoulders and everyone singing along, making the venue feel more like a festival field on a sunny day.
A consummate performer with an arsenal of huge tunes, it's no wonder Caribou is still going strong after two decades. Let's hope he'll be appearing heavily on the UK festival circuit this summer.
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