“I’m Waking Up to Us” is revealed as a close relative of the Justin Hayward-sung “Forever Autumn”, from Jeff Wayne’s ridiculous 1978 War of the Worlds album; a new song, “Wandering Alone” strongly resembles the Roy Orbison copy that the Mavericks sold millions of a few years ago.As ever equipped with what looks like the proceeds of a raid on a school music room, including recorders and various percussive implements, the very extended line-up (there’s more than a football team up there, almost a rugby XV when the string section joins in) seem close to nailing it. It’d be nice to hear them properly.The effortless Northern Soul stomp of “Dirty Dream Number Two” rushes by, providing nearly audible evidence that this once much-derided band are capable of switching styles with amazing facility. Though Stuart Murdoch’s ensemble have never been known for their rowdiness, the sound is ridiculously quiet, despite the audience’s frequent entreaties to “Turn it up!”. It’s immediately obvious, too, that any errors won’t be obscured by volume.

Tonight’s sold-out show, part of a tour to promote nothing in particular – their next album, an expansion of their largely rejected soundtrack for Todd Solondz’s film Storytelling, isn’t out until June – is part of a global jaunt lasting a few months.
The first “ironically” held-aloft lighter makes an appearance before this famously erratic band have made their first mistake of the night, to more ironic cheers, during the opening “Sleep the Clock Around”. Even a gang of avowed fame-avoiders like Glasgow’s Belle & Sebastian have to go out and meet their public occasionally. Tickets are £8 at the door, but ‘Independent’ readers can get free tickets by logging on to Tickets will be printed out direct from the site. Despite extensive use of glass, specially developed natural air ventilation combined with motorised external blinds and a 1.5m roof overhang ensures a constant internal atmosphere.It was the houses’ energy efficiency and low maintenance that appealed to Charles and Michelle Partos who have bought one of three Huf homes being built in Epping Forest.Previously, the couple had lived in a Victorian house whose style they loved but after “suffering multiple leaks and floods” decided to buy a new home and found the Huf Haus design appealing: “The openness and light was a major selling point,” says Mr Partos.

We spoke to the planners who didn’t want little concrete boxes with few windows, they wanted something modern that would blend in with nature, and our plans were approved at the first application,” says Mr Branco.Environmental issues were also a concern for the planners but as energy efficiency is a priority for Huf the design far exceeds British requirements; all windows are made from two panes of low emissivity glass with a 12mm gap filled with argon gas. Dulwich College Estate owns much of the land in this rigorously controlled conservation area and rumour has it that after buying the plot, Wates tried for four years to get consent with a variety of schemes which all failed.”They came to us practically on their knees as at that time they believed they had wasted an awful lot of money on the site yet all their plans had been rejected. “The architect sits down with the client and gets to know exactly what they want, what their aspirations are and then works to their budget but you must get your plot first as the design rests upon seeing the site,” says Mr Branco who finds that planning consent for Huf Haus is easier to get than for other designs.Some Dulwich residents are surprised that Huf’s planning application succeeded. The design too is flexible – some clients want flat roofs, for example. His advice to buyers contemplating this method is to make sure their plot is adequate: “You do need a good rural site as a Huf Haus wouldn’t suit an infill plot in Nottingham.”But is it expensive? Prices start at £200,000, approximately £100 per sq ft, there is no maximum and one client commissioned a 10,000sq ft property: “The system is flexible and at that level they fit swimming pools, squash courts and all sorts of things,” says Huf spokesman Joe Branco. It’s bordering on stereotypes but, in terms of style and the way they deliver, it’s a kick up the backside for UK firms who have nothing comparable,” he says.Mr Orme often hears of builder horror stories and projects running over schedule, but not with this system: “If the builders finish even earlier, then Peter Huf lets them have a holiday and I think that they often do.”Mr Orme believes that this form of “turn key” building is growing in popularity as it allows buyers to design their own homes with none of the stress of full self-build but he warns that it can be costly.

People are drawn to open-plan interiors for the light and space, but it’s the efficiency aspect that has a broader appeal. And 10 weeks later the client can move in.Jason Orme, deputy editor of Homebuilding and Renovating magazine, says he finds Huf Haus’s exterior “rather boxy” but says his readers disagree “They are extremely popular. A team of German builders can erect and make a weatherproof 4,000sq ft house in just one week including roof tiles, two if the client wants a basement. The timber posts and beams carry the structural load so that no walls are load-bearing and they and the glazing can be removed and the layout changed as required. The Dulwich development is the first city scheme but there are plans to build in nearby Greenwich and Blackheath.The design appeals to those wanting a highly contempo- rary look.