Caught Live: Jens Lekman @ Heaven, London

As Jens Lekman strolls out onto the Heaven stage, the instant adulation afforded to the Swede is enough to warm the fingers of all who have escaped London’s chilly October night. Having gained a stellar reputation for crafting frequently bewildering, but almost always unashamedly poppy, indie gems – both independently and for the likes of Gothenburg's Service Records – over the course of a decade, Lekman has never been afraid to throw a few surprises at his fans. And tonight proves no different.

Introducing his close friend Addison Rogers as "the drummer for the night", he quickly eases the crowd in by launching into brand new tune ‘Every Little Hair Knows Your Name’. It’s both subtle and subdued, not to mention intensely, immediately likeable. His delicate strumming provides the perfect foil for his welcoming voice, and the room swoons.

From that introductory masterclass onwards, the audience hangs on everything the singer says or does. This evening's pared-back setup – almost entirely devoid of the flare and grandeur of previous tours – emphasises another, perhaps better and deeper side to his music. A case in point is the tragi-comic ‘Waiting for Kirsten’, from recent self-released EP An Argument with Myself: on first listen, the song presents itself as little more than a self-deprecating laugh at Lekman's stalkerish obsession with the actress Kirsten Dunst, culminating in a doomed attempt to meet her in Gothenburg; and yet, tonight it seems to offer something more. The accompanying sermon is laced with themes of humility, self-respect and a rejection of celebrity culture, while at the same time promoting the notions of having a good time with your friends and being comfortable with yourself. Now who can really argue with that?

That the vast majority of Lekman’s wryly literate songcraft focuses overtly on his own experiences, putting him centre stage in stories of love, lust and everything that surrounds them, is no bad thing. It's abundantly clear throughout tonight's performance that these songs act as living, breathing vessels for his naturally jovial personality; he smiles so often onstage, and always with a feeling of genuine honesty, that it's nigh on impossible not to warm to him. And besides, the guy is genuinely hilarious: the aforementioned EP's sprightly title track packs a lyrical punch that tonight brings the house down. And it's far from the only time that the audience is reduced to a sea of giggles.

On reflection, the Swede's true genius lies in pulling all this off without ever seeming to be trying too hard. Never overstated, never desperately groping for laughs, it's a talent that seems to come almost effortlessly to him - and it's one that most songwriters would give their right arm to have at their disposal.

Photo courtesy of Tim Ferguson