Only Jason Pierce could field a seven-man band comprising three guitars, keyboards, vibraphone and harmonica and call it stripped down.

This, however, is Spiritualized, who concluded their last tour with a date at the Royal Albert Hall with a full orchestra, gospel choir and the release of thousands of balloons.

There has been some teasing in the music Press that Pierce's transfer from big-league BMG to indie label Sanctuary is behind this back-to-basics approach.

But from the moment he silently sidled into the strobe lighting and shuffled his gangling frame on to a guitar stool at the right of the stage, a rush of fuzz and feedback roared from the speakers as the Concorde was drenched in a cacophony of gospel and free jazz.

What followed was 90 minutes of ear-shatteringly loud, ecstatically beautiful rock.

Pierce's mournful, damaged voice hovered at the centre of a hurricane of sound as pulsing bars of light swept the back of the stage.

Much of the new album Amazing Grace was aired. Its fierce opener This Little Life Of Mine kicked off the set and the single She Kissed Me (And It Felt Like A Hit) emerged ragged and battered halfway through.

There were moments of calm, too, as the storm of guitars made way for an organ and Pierce, his eyes shut, intoned: "You've got to hold on to those that you love".

By the end, as crescendo followed crescendo, the sonic aggression was hypnotic.

Stripped down but still stunning, after 20 years he was still playing with fire.