When The Kooks' LD, Pete ‘Luton' Hosier, was introduced to GLP Impression LED moving washlights while controlling the set for the TPi Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, he knew he had to have them for the Kooks' European tour that was about to follow.

Ian Kirby, who runs LED-Lites - the UK distributor for GLP - had seized the opportunity to make an impression (literally) and merged 24 of the fixtures into HSL's design for the prestigious production awards.

Coincidentally, Pete Hosier had been asked by Avolites' Steve Warren to pilot the company's Diamond 4 lighting board at the gala event - and surveyed the fixtures he had to work with.

"But when we undid [the GLP] box of tricks I fell in love with them straight away. I knew the Impressions would be perfect for the tour."

The Kooks' lighting production company Colour Sound Experiment purchased 12 fixtures and Hosier set to work designing several scalable lighting configurations, incorporating generics, conventional moving spot/wash heads and strobes for use on the three-truss rig.

Depending on stage size, the lighting production - which was also supported by Martin's Lights - has the GLP's suspended from the ceiling on seven pipes (with five floor cans), or operate as five floor-standing pipes, with a GLP Impression, other movers and strobe (with scroller) on each.

However, the LD hadn't bargained on just how useful the Impressions would be when the show arrived in Milan. "The truck arrived late, and the voltage supply was unstable - so we decided to run the entire show with just the Impressions. It worked brilliantly."

In fact he has nothing but praise for the Impressions' high output on the Kooks' tour. Stored as macros on his Diamond 4 Vision the fixtures offer a stunning matrix of vivid, deeply-saturated colour - including the best amber the LD has seen.

"It has a brilliant colour palette," he confirms. "These are at least as bright as conventional discharge washes and more than hold their own against the strobes. It's also super responsive and is the LED we've been waiting for."

The Impressions are not only a lot more compact than conventionals, but require way less power consumption.

"They offer real eco value and we've slowly been lamping off all the movers; moving lights generate so much heat and by using aircon to make them cooler we are generating further energy problems."

Each Impression weighs just 7.5kg; on top of this, adds LED-Lites' Stuart Fenwick, "they produce 660° of really rapid pan and the strobing is pretty monstrous."

Each Impression on the tour is fitted with the standard 10° beam angle - but there are also optional 25° and 40° beam paths.

Pete Hosier believes the GLP Impression to be "the first proper, instant access moving light wash on the market." And it fully justifies LED-Lites' decision to take on the UK distribution for German Light Products during last September's PLASA Show.