IT’S six years since Young Knives garnered national attention with Voices Of Animals And Men.

Now the Oxford band, famed for their eccentric charm and energetic live performances, are back with a string of gigs in support of their third album, Ornaments From The Silver Arcade.

Although they kick off with old favourite Terra Firma, it is their latest offering that dominates the set at a crowded Fibbers.

It is an assured performance that showcases their quirky sense of humour and left-of-centre song-writing skills. Much has been made of Young Knives stepping away from their traditional post-punk stance, but on this evidence it is more of a shuffle than a leap – the choppy guitars, silly nicknames and comical lyrics (“She’s the apple of my eye/ Her laughter fills me up like shepherd’s pie”) are all still present and correct. But there have been some changes: Thomas “House Of Lords” Dartnall introduces his new expensive keyboard and although he admits his playing style is limited to one finger, it adds pleasant electronics to Love My Name and a bass throb that underpins Running From A Standing Start. The band’s real appeal, however, remains the random guitar stabs and sweet vocals of Henry Dartnall, whose whimsical presence provides an entertaining focus.

It’s when the older, punkier numbers come out that the atmosphere seems more charged and energetic, especially for the crowd’s clear favourite, She’s Attracted To.

Or perhaps the lulls in between are, as Dartnall points out, just because everyone has to go to work the next day.