On Thursday the group –– now fleshed out as a five-piece –– brought their prog-influenced sounds to Nottingham's Bodega Social Club.

The popular venue was crammed to the rafters, as it often is –– and this was no surprise, coming as it did just days after the band appeared on flagship BBC music show Later . . . With Jools Holland.

And those of us lucky enough to get a view of the stage were treated to confident and impressive live versions of the majority of excellent debut record Oracular Spectacular –– no mean feat considering it was recorded under the experienced eye of Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann.

But while that record has a contemporary and slightly experimental sound and approach –– with influences as diverse as Prince, Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire all leaping out –– as a live act MGMT are a much more retro proposition.

The psychedelic rock-outs and vintage synth and guitar sounds bring to mind most prominently early Pink Floyd, but there are also strong traces of David Bowie and even some T-Rex in the mix.

But this is more than just an exercise in '70s pastiche, as the band seem genuinely into that space rock vibe, and at the heart of MGMT perform is an exceptional songwriting talent already responsible for a raft of idiosyncratic indie gems.

And although the encore was a mess, with singer Andrew Vanwyngarden taking to the drums for a sloppy version of trippy ballad The Youth, by this point MGMT had easily staked their claim to being one of the most interesting and promising new bands around.

Did you go to the gig? Let us know what you thought below