The spiritual successor to last year's Drill festival and also organised by Brighton's One Inch Badge, the inaugural Mutations lacked that event's big names though compensated with striking lesser known acts and delicious eclecticism.

The 'quiet' day one focused on Americana, folk and blues, punctuated by the odd traditional rock band. Columbus, Ohio's Saintseneca were a nice appetiser with their glossy REM meets New Pornographers college rock, whilst Brooklyn-based Widowspeak's laid-back blues only occasionally veered into blandness.

Brilliant Brussels gonzo pop-rockers BRNS (pronounced 'brains') offered an early jolt to the system and Written In Waters vocalist Beth Cannon's vast range dazzled, though no-one would outdo the magnificent Josh T. Pearson, whose ironic country/gospel stylings and superb voice were perfection. Not even drab former Girls front-man Christopher Owens, whose anaemic acoustic whingeing was plain irritating, could spoil this.

Day two's metal-fest featured reliable local doom merchants Sea B****** providing sturdy support for San-Fran psychedelic heroes OM, whose bassy stoner sprawl was undeniably satisfying.

These two sandwiched the wonderful Blanck Mass, whose electronic wall of sound proved equally immense.

A punk onslaught from Leeds four-piece Blacklisters preceded the noise-rock knockout blow from a phenomenal Lightning Bolt, rounding the weekend off with ear-ringing aplomb.

Four stars