Over two swinging nights in London Suede spoil us. Shorn of the pressure of a gig, these two affairs - one a freebie in the cramped confines of the Virgin Megastore, the other a top-secret afternoon video shoot-come-open rehearsal in a shopping centre in Islington - are Suede at the peak of their form.

One sees Suede playing to a cramped confined space of fans, tourists, and curious onlookers. The other to a cramped club of fans and cameramen. But Suede play as if their lives depend upon it. Because this music runs through their soul.

A Virgin Megastore is never an easy place to play a gig. Throughout it all, bar a handful of diehards down the front, the crowd tend not to react. But Suede play with the might of conquering heroes. Faith in music is stronger than the world.

So we get a greatest hits set that sounds like all the best music in the world. Brett stalks the stage and flirts shamelessly with the crowd. And Richard makes these amazing sounds with his guitar. I wish I could play that well. And Alex looks like he's always always been there.

We get great big dollops of the new album - the classic "Beautiful Loser", the irresistable "Obsessions" , the gets-better-with-each-listen "Streetlife" . The wonderful, plaintive "Lost in TV" . We get old classics : the never-ending “ Trash" , the wildly improvised and pounding "Killing Of A Flashboy" . We get one song from each of the albums, and six from the new one.

As the newly resurrected "Heroine" comes to a close, Brett takes up his old acoustic and gives us a rare outing for the new albums "Oceans" . With music this good, words are useless. Honestly. A high street chain store is suspended, breath frozen on cold Autumn air, for its duration.

And then, the snarling "Can't Get Enough", and Suede's very own favourite things in the shape of "The Beautiful Ones." And a queue as they patiently sign everything put before them.

Two days later, they're even better. Suede make their debut in the new-look Marquee club with a stonking live set that masquerades as a video shoot. There are cameramen all over the place and lights in funny places. And Suede again claiming the mantle of best live act.

This is my 23rd Suede gig and I'm still not bored with seeing them.

Ostensibly they're here to film a clip for the upcoming "Obsessions" single. But what they're really here to do is rock like bastards. In ancient times Suede were written off as fey and camp. Which has never been further from the truth - they know that the soft stroke of leather can also turn hard. And they were always about surviving in a hard world.

There’s four versions of “Obsessions” - three video playbacks, and best of all, a slow, lounge-act version that slops and slinks around like Elvis at his highest - and lowest - point. I demand its release. Now.

And on top of that, there‘s a sixteen song live set with songs that most bands don‘t even dream of writing. Their imaginations aren‘t strong enough to aspire to these levels. “Animal Nitrate” is exhumed from a graveyard and leaves me breathless. It sounds as fresh as the day it was delivered from The Great Riff Factory.

“My Dark Star” reminds that Suede were always great. Trends come and go. Suede remain. And Richard still makes some weird screeching noise with his guitar that leave me thrilled, breathless.

It doesn’t matter where you put them. Put them in a sweaty record shop. Put them in a half-empty club filming a video. I’m thrilled. The upcoming tour is going to be stonking. Doubters will be convinced, and fans vindicated.

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