It says something about Maxïmo Park’s enduring appeal that the Tyneside four-piece can headline The Great Escape after staying dormant for two years.

During that time they’ve left record label Warp (typically a home for leftfield acts, but probably not fans of the surprisingly unambitious indie-rock album the Park made for them) and devised new LP The National Health, a fourth record which, from the teaser releases, has all of Paul Smith’s usual literate earnestness with the added bonus of some vaguely political angst.

Along with Smith’s enormous charisma and hyperactive onstage showmanship, part of their post-punk appeal might be their ability to deal with affairs of the heart and conscience head on.

It was no surprise, then, to see them open this show with the title track from their latest offering.

The clattering keys and growling guitars which mark their signature sound were there, yet a largely-full dancefloor failed to meet their call to NHS-insinuated arms, resulting in the slightly dispiriting sight of Smith arching and leaping around in front of hundreds of unaffected fans, a symbolic plea for passion which remained unrequited.

If that marked an ominous start, new lead single Hips And Lips was barely an improvement – it’s a seductive, bass-surfing dissection of confused love but lacks catchiness.

Eventually, the shouty anthemics of closer Apply Some Pressure made Smith’s fist-clenching theatrics look more comfortable.

They will hope for better receptions once the album is released. For now, they remain a band who clearly adore performing.