THERE were many things for Radiohead fans to be miserable last year. You might say, by just being a Radiohead fan anyway, that kind of makes you a miserable git by default.

But in this instance, that misery was directed Manchester-wards, and in the shape of one man - electropop wizard David Wrench.

The story so far: David Wrench is a six foot five albino who came to Manchester via Bangor and was soon signed up to rising local label Storm Music thanks to his darkly delicious electropop.

Last November, he was due to release to release his debut EP, Anti-War, four tracks of pulsing synth-pop that included a radical and reworded cover of Radiohead's Creep.

And did the famously affable and self-deprecating Radiohead give the green light for Wrench to release the song? Err, no, as if it needed saying.

"I don't think Thom Yorke was too pleased," recalls Wrench. "He's not really renowned for his sense of humour is he? My excuse was, if he can let Moby do a rubbish cover of one of his songs, then why not let me?"

As it transpired, Radiohead's legal team put the final stop to Wrench's release of Creep. But by then it was too late - the damage and intent was done anyway:

David Wrench had fully completed his transformation from Welsh studio backroom wizard to electropop's newly crowned arch revolutionary. And one who had gotten the entire Radiohead fan nation in a strop. Result!

Sighs Wrench: "Well, it's a bit hypocritical of Radiohead isn't it? For a band who are so opposed to war and George Bush - why did they stop the release of my Anti-War EP? Get a sense of humour Radiohead!"

Wrench himself is an affable, uncomfortably tall man in his `30s who's been through too many bad jobs to mention here. Sometime in his early `30s he fell into a job working as a studio engineer in Bangor where he worked on records by the likes of Julian Cope, Ian McCulloch, Jackie Leven and The Super Furry Animals.

He learnt a lot about how not to make it in the music industry ("I've got some horror stories about Ian McCulloch"), and from there, started forming his own plans for music biz world domination.

"I've always sort of made music before, but I never had the money to record it. So I thought by blagging a job in the studio, I'd have the perfect access to recording equipment."

Influenced as much by Marx and Engels as he is by Bob Dylan, Dexys Midnight Runners and The Scissor Sisters, it's central tenet to his musical career that no matter how weighty the subject matter, we should never forget to have a boogie.

"I'd describe my music as apocalyptic party music," he says without a hint of irony. "The lyrical content is very heavy, but it's balanced with a humour and energy. And if you're going to write songs about war and the apocalypse, why not have a dance whilst you're doing it?"

And there's now a whole album to back up that statement: Atomic World Of Tomorrow (expected arrival date: July), ranging from set highlight and forthcoming single Superhorny to simply frightening techno monsters like World War IV.

But will you be sending Thom Yorke a copy of the album?

Wrench laughs: "No! Haha, I don't really think it'd be his thing, anyway. Although if he wants to get in touch, I'd be very happy to send him a free copy..."

David Wrench plays Club Indigo at Retro Bar on Sackville Street on Friday, April 16, with support from The Open. Admission is £4/3.