SINCE the late 1980s Ankst Records has been home to some of the best Welsh language rock and pop around.

The label is currently promoting artists with releases penned for 2003, such as Zabrinski, MC Mabon, Ectogram, Infinity Chimps and female-fronted metallers Wendy Kurk who play Clwb Ifor Bach on Saturday, February 1.

The company's back catalogue includes the likes of Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) in Ffa Coffi Pawb, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Ectogram, and a fledgling Catatonia.

So the release of a comprehensive compilation makes for a rare chance to snatch some of the music that paved the way for the 90s boom, and current scenes.

Radio Crymi Playlist Volume 1 (1988-1998) has forty tracks from Ankst Records bands, split equally between single and album tracks.

Alongside the bands who made it on to the English-Welsh scene and beyond are thoroughbred Welsh heroes such as Llwybr Llaethog, Geraint Jarman and Traddodiad Ofnus/Ty Gwyder.

As are one-off odd-bods such as Rheinallt H Rowlands who sounds like Bryn Terfel busking on the High Street with Geoff Love's Big Orchestra backing him up.

The compilation is worth buying for two reasons: firstly, it's probably the best history of Welsh pop music you'll find, and secondly, some of the music is great in its own right. The Super Furry Animals frontman's dulcet tones are instantly recognisable on Sega Segur (The Idle Sega), and again on an early Super Furry Animals' track, Pam V (Why Me).

Catatonia is present with one of the band's most charming early works, Gyda Gwen (With a Smile) and again under an earlier name, Y Cyrff with Euog (Guilty). Radio Crymi Playlist Vol 1 (1988-1998) is out in March. See www.ankst.net