It’s been a long time since anyone made convincingly good mope rock, especially on this side of the Atlantic. Veil Veil Vanish serve up a breathtaking aural feast for the famished soul, melancholy and hopeful in equal portions.

A modest crowd of lucky people turned up for the band’s CD release party to celebrate the follow-up to 2007’s Into a New Mausoleum. Change in the Neon Light sees the band churning out a smarter offering overall, chock full of memorable anthems, more indie gloom this time than shoegaze wash.

The fact that Mark Burgess of the Chameleons opened the night with a DJ set is fitting, the artists easily slide into a similar vein: intelligent and haunting post-punk.

The band opens with the title track, a wave of keyboard and drone-drums supporting a ringing guitar, Keven Tecon’s pleading vocals sailing over the whole package. Tecon is the quintessential frontman, oozing sincerity and a raw energy that makes it hard to take your eyes away.

Launching into the bass-heavy “This is Violet,” commanding bassist Amy Rosenoff has the opportunity to display her prowess. Despite the fact that guitarist Cameron Ray has broken a string they carry on as if nothing were the worse for it.

“Anthem for a Doomed Youth” follows, one of the finest songs on the new release, catchy and seamless in its delivery. “Detachment,” with its lopsided groove, is striking in that it sounds like several songs stitched together but strangely right.

“Exile City” is another true gem, tormented pop with a razor guitar line. “Modern Dance” sees Tecon abandon his guitar to add to the wash of keyboard that makes this one perfect for, as the title suggests, dancing. Closing with “Wilderness,” the audience is left shouting for more after a set that burns too bright and too quick but with an intensity that lingers long after the band escapes the spotlight.