It was only a few months back that I heard Cate Le Bon live for the first time, at Green Man Festival – and what a dream, I thought. The Far Out stage was made for an act like hers, with bass and saxophones warming us up in the early hours of the evening; its industrial-looking canopy matched the pop psychedelia soundscape constructed on her latest work, Pompeii. While her dynamic melodies demand a standing crowd, I felt a little sceptical about a seated gig.

The last day of Llais 2022 seemed nothing like a Sunday: the WMC was festive, picking up again. Having joined John Cale just a few days prior, the Welsh musician was familiar with the festival’s setup. Opened by Cardiff-based newcomer Alice Low and followed by Black Midi, Le Bon took the Llais stage early, joined by her band. She rocked an eye-catching orange guitar that everyone talked about, though the lighting may have given it extra gleam – a cohesive blue and pink show that completed Le Bon’s imagery.

Miami kicked off the night – the album opener from 2019’s Reward, it subtly echoes Pompeii’s own first track. These records mirror each other, but only to a point. Pompeii is more focused, breathing its own life. Containing multitudes, the band just coils it together: the guitars melt into the saxophones while Le Bon carries it all. This complex live chemistry adds even more to the record, a dimension I was thrilled to observe. The lighthearted vocals, the imposing gestures, and the occasional warm smiles all make up a wonderful contradiction.

The setlist varied more than anticipated. A resolution to a quieter gig may have been familiarity, and it worked for me – I felt surprisingly grounded amidst a static audience. When Daylight Matters began, the Donald Gordon Theatre turned into a sing-along: “Love you, I love you, I love you, I love you/But you’re not here”. Same again on Home To You. My highlight was Remembering Me, a groovy take on grief that shows Le Bon’s quality to sing about dark matter… lightheartedly: “Upset, and out of touch/Good grief, you miss so much.”

The more I think about it, the more I realise that being sat down allowed me to grasp and understand more. One thing is certain: this concert was remarkable, and one I will remember for a long while.

Llais: Cate Le Bon, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sun 30 Oct

words PETRE-ADRIAN BANUTA photos POLLY THOMAS