Grunge pioneer Kurt Cobain may have had a lousy taste in women, but when it came to music he knew a thing or two.

By the time a self-inflicted gunshot wound intervened in 1994, Cobain's haunting vocals and railing lyrics had helped make Nirvana the most important band on the planet.

So when Kurt lists Young Marble Giants' 1980 album Colossal Youth as one of the 10 which changed his life and lavishes praise on it in his recently published journal, it's time to reappraise the Cardiff trio.

Young Marble Giants formed in 1978.

Vocalist Alison Stratton, from Penylan, was going out with Phil Moxham, from Cathays, and the pair, along with Phil's older brother Stuart, were in a band called True Wheel.

The three decided to go it alone and the Young Marble Giants (YMG) were born, with their obscure name actually hiding a more prosaic reasoning.

"I was already in my 20s by then, I was over the hill compared to all the punk bands around," said Stuart, now 48.

"So we chose a name with 'young' in it just to pull the wool over everyone's eyes."

Their sound certainly kicked against the prevailing tide, creating sparse soundscapes via Stuart's guitar and keyboard, Phil's bass guitar and a basic drum machine.

Over this came Alison's disconnected vocals, lamenting lost loves, empty streets and nuclear war.

It was a tough time for bands in South Wales (Cool Cymru was a phrase only used on weather forecasts), but YMG got some tracks on a compilation of Cardiff bands called Is The War Over?

Their work came to the attention of indie-super label Rough Trade and the band were invited to make the album which became Colossal Youth.

Of the recording, Stuart recalled: "When it comes to great music there's that something extra there, it's not in your control. It's like alchemy."

The success that followed, including uncomfortable tours of America and Europe, conspired to blow the band apart.

Even today, aged 45, Alison seems embarrassed when informed that Kurt Cobain admitted in an interview he had a crush on her.

"What?" she laughed.

"I certainly was no sex-symbol.

"At the time we did feel a bit strange about the whole thing, like outsiders.

"When we went up to London, I think the journalists thought I would turn up in traditional Welsh costume."

The solo projects and collaborations which followed failed to raise the excitement of the original band.

About the split Stuart admits: "To be honest I thought I could do it alone."

But there is good news for Young Marble Giants fans: the trio are working together again along with the youngest Moxham, Andrew.

There is even talk of concerts in Cardiff and Paris.

As Stuart dryly observed: "I think it's about time for the follow-up album, don't you?"

For a brief moment in the 1980s, Cardiff's Young Marble Giants were the future of rock and roll. Now, as it's revealed grunge god Kurt Cobain was their biggest fan, Steve Tucker discovers where they are now.