Today, among all of the Mediterranean's unique island mammals, there is a single survivor—the Cypriot mouse (Mus cypriacus)—a species so obscure and small that it was not even recognised as being distinct from the house mouse until 2006.

There is no danger that these visionary cranks will set the world aflame, but a compelling world is tucked away within their music, a world that sets them apart, too, from the bland and homogeneous conventions that mark the path to pop stardom.

I went home after we had decided to call it a day.

After years of neglect, the rusty old bridge could give way at any time.