Young Marble Giants

Young Marble Giants

Stereo, Glasgow

Keith Bruce

There is a sound reason why the singular post-punk minimalism of Cardiff's Young Marble Giants has not been much replicated in the 34 years since the trio released their sole album, Colossal Youth, on Rough Trade. Although Stuart Moxham's songs matched quirky lyricism with hooky little tunes, the spare style in which he played them with brother Philip on bass while Alison Statton sang requires a deceptively high level of skill.

Every mistake is audible, so when Moxham jokes: "It is as well we're not in James Brown's band", what that makes you notice is not the admission of fallibility but how funky the underlying beat always was, even if the group's relaxed and friendly manner would not have survived JB's strict regime.

Those imperfections were always part of the charm of Young Marble Giants anyway.

Almost all of that album is aired for a packed house that knows it inside out and cheers favourite tracks, although some of them were not born when it was first released.

In truth, Statton's performance of the title track is more pitch-accurate for their first Glasgow gig than it was in the studio.

The chief difference between then and now is the addition of third Moxham brother, Andrew, operating the electronic percussion.

Previously best known to YMG fans for contributing the anagrams of the band's name that decorated the label of the instrumental Test Card EP, his physical presence only serves to make the combo look as unique as it sounds.

More recent bands of brothers, such as Kings Of Leon, should dream of being as fondly regarded by generations to come.