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I’ve been playing Houdini Dax since they were still in school in Cardiff. That was only a small handful of years ago. It’s remarkable that a band who have done so much (debut album, numerous festival appearances and tours) are still so clean-faced and musically enthusiastic.

There’s no ignoring the fact that the band are steeped in mostly classic influences, but the freshness they bring to their (grandfather’s, probably) Beatles, Turtles, early Pink Floyd and Monkees’ L.Ps is as refreshing as it is exciting.

Houdini Dax are more than a trip down Penny Lane, though. Their songs have dark edges, just enough shadow to ground them in the here and now. A debut album came and went, bristling with more ideas and tunes than a Brill Building reunion.

However that musical potential next bears fruit, it will be worth picking and savouring, again, and again and again and again.

(Written by Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Wales presenter Adam Walton)