.....After a quick cigarette I returned to a band room full of smoke itself. This was from a machine onstage though, as Wellyn were pulling out all the stops tonight for the launch of their album An Intimate Universe. And why not? Throughout the set the band (featuring Nedd Jones on lead vocals and guitar, Peter Uhlenbruch on lead guitars, Justin Ridge on bass, Peter Spark on drums and Matty Quinn ..s) would attempt to capture the exquisite melodies and textured layers of their stunning debut. They not only captured the beauty of said album, they practically blew it away. I was struck by the beauty of it all, and to be honest felt proud. Harnessing influences such as Elbow, Travis and Doves, each song was over too early, while the next one didn't allow you to savour the last.

The entire set unfolded into something of a lovely mess of tender moments, vocal harmonies, emotive yet raucous guitars, all underpinned with wonderful keys and subtlety tight bass and drums. Wellyn made you want to cry but never gave you the chance as you were simply swept away with them on their journey through love and loss, heartache and strength. I believe it may have been one of the best shows I have seen in some time. It was one of those events where for years to come the people who went will have a secret bond, like those who witnessed Jeff Buckley before he passed, and will always remember what they saw, and what they heard. And how they felt.

The set ended with something of a gospel pirate shanty as the band welcomed guest vocalists and musicians to the stage to perform The White House. Soaring vocals provided by everyone on stage, including newcomers Van and Cal Walker, Dan and Joel Griffith, Jimmy Stewart and Beau Addison, were initially accompanied only by a resounding drum beat, before the entire array of instruments were let loose upon to create one final ethereal wave of noise and beauty. Wellyn were, and are, simply outstanding.