As a matter of fact, yes, I have. My thoughts were that they were visually gimmicky, narcissitic, and contrived. Aurally; hackneyed, mediocre, and pretty uninspired in the grand scheme of things. Don't get me wrong, I don't think they are total crap, I just don't think they deserve much hype.

What bugs me is that there have been many very interesting bands from the Cardiff area over the years playing very interesting music, yet they have played to empty rooms; the only persons listening being the promoters and the other bands on the bill. Then a band like Islet appears who have connections, gimmicks, and a savvy anti-marketing marketing plan, and people start to cream themselves. If you are all such music fans as you so pronounce, why haven't you been at the other gigs filling the empty spaces? Why haven't you been seeking out the interesting sounds being made by local musicians?

Music is a funny thing. If people succumb to hype and adopt a like for a certain band, they believe it is a part of their own idenity, and any criticism of the music from another is then interpreted as an attack on the self. Why can't we all close our eyes and listen with open ears? What's wrong with being critical and having an opinion that is not the same as everyone else's?

It seems as if people don't want to listen to music, they just use music as an image enhancer. The author of this article says, 'I didn’t even have to force myself to like them' – why would you force yourself to like anything? The answer is that it is 'cool' to like certain things, and people just yearn to be cool.

No, it's because they KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

Also, no hype acts as hype in itself.

Look beyond this and there is much evidence to suggest that they suck.

I totally agree that they are a really good band.

But don’t kid yourself about the ‘no promo’ thing. One of them goes out with a member of Los Campesinos! and one of them used to be in VEG Club who were signed. All these things count. Plus most things I’ve seen about them mention their anti-promotion thing – so it then becomes a selling point.

Do us a favour and concentrate on how good they are. People don’t need to be hoodwinked into liking them with some anti-marketing nonsense.