Tuesday 22/01/08 The Ting Tings @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London

Stylish Salford pairing Ting Tings currently sit just outside of a whirlwind of hype that’ll blow them rapidly into the pages of music and fashion magazines in the next few months, in a way probably not seen since Gossip. Striking singer and guitarist Katie White and her drumming counterpart Jules De Martino make a conscientious sound and image almost like those other guitar ‘n’ drums Whites – albeit in reverse, with an added bass and lead guitar backing track, and no particular colour scheme.

With razor cheekbones and jagged blond hair poking out from under her grey cap, White has the looks and just about the vocals to match. ‘Fruit Machine’ sees her strut with one of her collection of guitars – her high energy, high pitched vocals matched by De Martino in almost perfect harmony as it works its way towards a yelping frenzy, like Le Tigre ramping it up into Blondie’s ‘Rapture’. Their study at the school of The White Stripes becomes apparent from their alternating vocals and call-and-response dynamics between each other, especially during the haunting ‘Traffic Light’ as White showcases a sweet country voice away from her new-rave hollering, while De Martino gently strums guitar.

Ending with the explosive sassiness of ‘That’s Not My Name’, the uproar that should be sparked from the crowd as the tempo goes ballistic never quite materialises – blame a Tuesday night booking if you will, but their two-person aesthetic should perhaps be compromised for a bigger sound with more players. Let’s hope they tell the producers of Skins where to go though.