“Congratulations on getting into Cambridge… Not one of the best colleges, admittedly...” Spector’s frontman, dressed like a mixture of that hip geography teacher from school and Ron from Sparks, probably failed to deliver the wisest opening remarks for a somewhat restless Emma Ents crowd. It takes quite a special band and a near indie-pop tour de force to save a night from such a faux pas.

According to numerous musical oracles, Spector are The Next Big Thing™, a moniker which is probably more of a curse than a blessing at this point- hello Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong. Reminiscent of the previous decade’s garage rock revival with some 80’s pop weaved through their chords, plus some Brandon Flowers bombast for good measure, Spector might just have what it takes to resist cliché.

Worryingly, the gig got off to an extremely shaky start. Although the band were technically proficient, there was initially little to no connection with the crowd bar a few diehard Spector fans at the very front. Recent single “What You Wanted” even slipped by without much notice. Luckily, the band really started going with the sublime slice of synthpop which is “Chevy Thunder;” lead singer Fred MacPherson’s effervescent energy was irresistible. Channelling a bit of Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and a lot of Jarvis Cocker, his banter with the room dragged on slightly but was undeniably winsome. The night’s highlight was undoubtedly their last song, “Never Fade Away.” The recorded version is a pretty piece of Ian Curtis-esque melodrama, but like all the best bands, Spector turned it into something transcendental live; an ardent anthem for lonely hearts. Even the most stoic member of the audience surely could not help but hum its hook on the way out.

MacPherson at one point joked that this could be the last time they played a gig this size- because tomorrow they were playing one even smaller. Realistically, the hundred or so in attendance in Emmanuel were probably among the last to see the band in such an intimate setting- based on last night’s barnstorming second half, bigger stages await Spector.