Malcolm Middleton must be sick of hearing his music described as “miserable”. Since his days as half of the cult Scottish act Arab Strap and through five celebrated solo albums the singer, songwriter and guitarist has been stuck with the tag of indie whinger. Never mind that his doom-laden lyrics are also laugh-out-loud funny, that he has covered songs by the Saturdays and Girls Aloud or that half of his current album, Waxing Gibbous, is upbeat pop-rock, the mostly male crowd at ICA came for the grumpy guy. “Moan more, Malcolm,” shouted a bloke at the back when Middleton’s deadpan banter strayed uncomfortably close to cheery.

Having averaged a solo album a year since Arab Strap split and come close to a hit with 2007’s anti-Christmas anthem We’re All Going to Die — it was tipped to top the charts, but peaked at No 31 — Middleton recently announced that he was putting his solo career on hold. His army of admirers can perhaps prepare for an electronic project, at least if the bubbly beats that sneaked in behind grunge-style guitars on several new songs are any indication. Middleton may have to purchase a new keyboard first, however. Halfway through the show his old one emitted a horrible squalling sound before partly collapsing. While his five-piece band hurried over to inspect the mess, the singer smiled and carried on, refusing requests for a Michael Jackson cover.

After opening accompanied only by his own acoustic guitar, Middleton began adding layers to his inventive, intricately arranged folk-pop. The ex-Arab Strap singer Jenny Reeve duetted on Ballad of F*** All, her pure, sweet vocals turning lyrics about “soul-destroying gloom” into a lovely toe-tapper. But it was the perky new numbers that worked best, including the recent single Red Travellin’ Socks, a joyous, piano-led dissection of a failing relationship that sounded a little like Deacon Blue. The sprightly Shadows and a country-tinged Kiss at the Station had fans’ feet shuffling, while the forthcoming single Zero featured clattering electronica and a comedy rap. Miserable? Not at all.

Tour continues: Bodega, Nottingham tonight; the Cluny, Newcastle, tomorrow

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