Prime Circle: Evolving from a Witbank garage

Emalahleni, formerly Witbank, in Mpumalanga is not renowned as an incubator of musical talent.

It may have something to do with the coal burning-induced smog that wraps itself around the city like a boa constrictor. Fortunately, being surrounded by the noxious refuse of mining has not stopped Prime Circle from becoming one of South Africa's biggest bands.

Quintet Ross Learmonth, Marco Gomes, Dale Schnettler, Dirk Bisschoff and Neil Breytenbach have won two Samas, have been nominated for 10 and are about to jet off for a nine-show tour of Germany after a recent trip to Spain and France.

"Marco pretty much found us all. His garage was full of really cheap speakers that looked like they had fallen off the back of a truck," said lead singer Learmonth.

That dented speaker-packed garage laid the foundation for one of the few South African classic rock acts that would successfully navigate the ever-shifting quagmire of music du jour.

"We are really happy that our fans have stuck with us as our sound has evolved. You can hear the progression throughout our stuff. Our songwriting and style have progressed," said Learmonth.

"It's difficult because you're never going to please everybody. We write what we enjoy and at the end of the day we have to enjoy what we're doing so that is what we try to do. Hopefully it catches on," said Gomes.

This modest statement glosses over a metamorphosis from a gut-wrenchingly emotional hard-edged band to something more accessible. Last year, Rolling Stones's Diane Coetzer glowingly compared the lack of prettiness in Evidence, their fifth album, to a blood-spattered room.

Despite their undoubted success, many have bemoaned the increasing tendency towards safe, digestible music. They have been branded in some quarters as "South Africa's Nickelback", an epithet almost too vile to mention.

Their latest album, Let the Night In, does little to dispel that notion. Despite having a couple of high points, such as Bastards, My City and Blame it on Me, it often feels vacuous, but musical tastes, like faces, come in all shapes and sizes.

Whether one likes or loathes the alternative pop-rock sound that has come to characterise Prime Circle, their continued success is laudable. Many former South African rock stars have had to return to their day jobs, while these guys are a world-touring, record label-owning juggernaut.

• 'Let the Night In' is now in stores. For gigs see www.primecircleband.com