91Èȱ¬

Bethan Elfyn details Islet's remarkable story elsewhere in these blogs so I shan't repeat the details, especially as they are well on the way to becoming mythical fireside / bedtime stories.

But I will say that, on the evidence of the three tracks that I have heard so far, they do sound unusual and unpredictable, achievements in their own right here at the death bed of originality.

Also, this wouldn't be one of those occasions where you went to see a band on the basis of an amazing studio recording that has been doing the rounds, only to discover that they couldn't cut it live. Islet's reputation, and their approach, is entirely focused on live performance, to the extent that they wouldn't countenance the idea of recording last week's session for Bethan's show any other way than entirely live.

Listening to the session tracks, you can hear why. Each piece evolves as it progresses. I doubt any of their musics gets played the same way twice. Not for them the homogeneity of performance dictated by loops on a laptop. It's different every time, baby! And in an age when we've transferred all our manufacturing expertise to banging out everything to a template, that in itself is reason enough to get excited.

There is a communal spontaneity to what they do that evokes the free-for-all sensibilities of Neu! or Faust, an attitude that I'm sure also finds resonance with bands I've never heard of on the outer rim of the modern rock avant-garde.

It's good that they are good because I've already heard dissenting voices whinge that the band's ascent is down to having friends in the right places. So what if they do? You only earn that kind of support if you're good. Sometimes it's necessary to resist the British inclination to keep people in their place. Some people deserve to soar. Heck, Islet are even kind enough to invite us along for the flight.

Eminent broadcaster Huw Stephens will DJ before and afterwards, which I'm very much looking forward to. And you get all of this excellence for NO POUNDS and NO PENCE. It's FREE. I called Gethin Evans, one of the promoters at Morgan Lloyd, and he had to repeat that particular piece of information three times before I would believe him.

Morgan Lloyd has built a reputation for being one of the venues in North Wales most supportive of interesting, Welsh, leftfield music. Over forthcoming weeks you will be treated to aceness from Sweet Baboo, John Lawrence, Mr Huw, Yucatan, Division, Promatics, Yr Ods... all listings info, and more, is available on the .

See you Saturday night.

Adam