pop

The fickle techno rave scene has been good to the Prodigy. Or rather, the distinctive insanity of the Prodigy has been good for Brit techno.

Their roots are impeccable: rave junky Essex lads raised on M25-blitzing illegal all-nighters; Keith Flint, Leeroy Thornhill, Maxim headed by gang leader Liam Howlett. Lowlett's quiet genius is the ability to metamorphose, move the band's music on from the E-fuelled turn-of-the-decade euphoria that found expression through songs like "Charly" to the creative epoch that was last year's dark headspinner Music For The Jilted Generation (XL). A rave in-crowd, critically adored, crossover pop three-pronged success story that has clocked up 300,000 sales, they saw no reason to push it further by either appearing at the Brits (despite a nomination) or on TOTP. Radio One, god bless its out-of-touch heart, has only just started properly backing them by supporting single "Poison" - but it's a tad late.

They are a rare thing indeed; an independent minded body who can sidestep the powers that be, confident that every time they show up, so do several thousand dance connoisseurs. Few tickets will be around on the night. If you haven't got yours, watch out for the summer festivals...

The Prodigy, Sat, Brixton Academy, SW9