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The band's 1992 debut album Patio didn't give the impression that they were overly concerned with thundering into the mainstream. That's how things mostly remained thereafter, save the notable occasion of the poppy Patio Song, which was picked up by Radio 1 as 1996's end-of-summer anthem.

Rather than huge sales and a high celebrity profile, Gorky's gained an utterly devoted international following of fans. Their 1995 album Bwyd Time topped the indie chart - a huge surprise, not least to the band themselves. It included the eccentric Game Of Eyes and the endearing Miss Trudy - both released as singles, though they didn't chart.

A host of further singles - including the Amber Gamber and and If Fingers Were Xylophones EPs - were released before their next album, 1997's Barafundle. The album consolidated their growing international popularity, particularly in Japan, and contained the hits Patio Song and Diamond Dew.

1998 saw the release of the wonderful, largely acoustic and wholly seductive Gorky 5, held by some to be their most consistent collection. It contained the singles Let's Get Together (In Our Minds) and Sweet Johnny.

A new single, the summery Spanish Dance Troupe, was followed in September 1999 by the album of the same name. But by then John Lawrence had left to form Infinity Chimps. The band lost another member in 2000, just before the release of The Blue Trees mini album, when drummer Euros Rowlands announced he was leaving to become a teacher in Swansea. He was replaced by former Topper drummer Pete Richardson.

The line-up changes were reflected in the band's next releases, and they took a turn towards a more reflective, almost country sound. The new atmosphere was felt both on The Blue Trees and on the 2001 album How I Long To Feel That Summer In My Heart, bouncing in near childish glee on tracks such as Cân Megan and the rapturous Her Hair Hangs Long.

In March 2003 the band re-released their early Ankst singles on the collection 20, and in August that year a brand new collection, the lush Sleep/Holiday.

By the time of Euros Childs' debut solo album Chops in February 2006, Gorky's were said to be on extended hiatus. Two months later, Richard James followed suit, releasing The Seven Sleepers Den in April.

On 26 May 2006, a message was posted on the band's official website. It read: "Gorky's Zygotic Mynci have decided to call it a day and split up.

"Richard, Megan, Euros and Pete would like to thank everyone who came to the gigs and bought the records over the years. The re-issues of the first three Gorky's albums - Patio, Tatay, and Bwyd Time - will go ahead as planned and will be released before late 2006."

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci's prolific output speaks for itself, and there's little like their pop rock psychedelic folk to be heard anywhere else. They remain a truly remarkable band.