The last time Dan Mangan had been to Brighton was to play solo in coffee bars and pubs. He returned with four bearded men from Vancouver and left a much different impression.

It has been four years since the Oh Fortune album gained Mangan recognition in his native Canada.

The set took off with Offred from his fourth album, Club Meds, and it was immediately obvious that the folk journey had been re-routed to a more sonic, experimental destination and Blacksmith were the craft to take us there.

Kenton Loewen (drums) and John Walsh (bass) were a powerhouse of shifting rhythms. Gordon Grdina's guitar work was tasty and when he did play one solo what a solo it was.

J.P.Carter added a further spatial dimension with his trumpet, high as a kite on effects.

The band looked serious - after all this was a steep astral ascent.

Mangan's lyrics were also weighty but his warm banter kept things grounded.

He didn't physically stand centre stage but it was Mangan's fine songs at the heart of the matter. When someone in the crowd heckled "We are all binary creatures!” it emphasised this was no ordinary rock 'n roll show.

Four stars