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Tuesday night saw the multi headed electronic monster that is Washed Out and Small Black descend upon the capital for one of our most eagerly anticipated gigs of the year. Both Washed Out and Small Black featured in our Massive Radar list at the beginning of the year and following an impressive SXSW, expectations were running high.

Small Black (New Jersey) open the show and then return after a brief interlude to play as Washed Out a.k.a. Justin Greene’s (Perry, Georgia) backing band. On record both bands have moments that shine individually but as was at SXSW it’s when the two play together tonight that the real magic is found. Although ‘Despicable Dogs’ and ‘Bad Lover’ should get a little mention first as standouts tonight for Small Black.

Small Black seem to gain confidence when joined by Justin, the more natural front-man on show tonight despite starting the evening set back on the stage behind his trusty synth station. It works the other way round too though as Washed Out’s set, which starts with Justin solo, is made instantly more accessible by the appearance of the colourful New Jersey crew of Josh and Ryan (synths/keys/vocals) and Juan and Jeff (bass/drums).

All of Washed Out’s ‘Life Of Leisure’ EP tracks sound pretty huge this evening. Justin proclaims one of them, ‘Get Up’, his only hip-hop track and it’s received with glee. The audience evidently like hip-hop a bit but it’s the more 80s tinged dance numbers like ‘Hold Out’ and ‘You’ll See It’ that really get the crowd moving, including one Friendly Fires front man and one Golden Silvers front man incidentally.

Washed Out’s ‘Feel It All Around’ single gets the biggest cheer of the night before the band are lured back on stage to perform a live rendition of Justin’s superb re-working of Small Black’s crowning jewel ‘Despicable Dogs’.

For a partnership still in its infancy this is a pretty impressive one.

Washed Out + Small Black @ Cargo London, June 1st 2010.