We're still waiting for Andrew

who must actually work at his job or something but anyway in the meantime I have been listening to

Neko Case - Blacklisted , excellent album of hers from last year. At first her voice seemed to soar too much for me but now I really like it, hmm which songs are the covers.

Last Post - Dry Land, 2002 album from Irish Scott Walker, haven't really got into it yet

Boa Morte - And soon we must face the outside world (errr roughly) which is a real gem, singer's voice seems brave since he speak sings and it is high in the mix. Plus strings and melodies and beofre you know it you clutching at your heart at the bueaty of it

What else - saw the kids at Idlewild, was good but was hoping to repeat the brilliance that was Andrew WK from last year. The kids jump up and down but not as much as I remember them doing from in my day. There is a very popular Idlewild bulletin board but they all say stupid things like 'I'm drunk now!' and have bloody pictures in their signatures. What will we do with the kids.......

The night before, Americhord was brilliant supporting Decal at Bleep. Lovely early 90s melodic techno tuneful stuff. We should start a rating system 1 Beard!, 2 out of 5 Beards!, 1 & 1/2 Chinstrokes! Anyway Americhord would be 4 Beards! out of 5 while Decal were 3 1/2 with a bonus full Chinstroke!

I just learned from on the arise mailing list (Oldham followers) that a guy who was talking to him after some concert in 1999 got a cd from Oldham wrapped in an envelope with the nascent lyrics for I see a Darkness. One day that will be worth a few bob.

Oh yeah and I got a cd (oh oh - too many purchases) of Havanarama who did a Rock the Blockade tour of Cuba a year or two ago, the music is grand, a selection of live recordings of Havanarama/David Pajo/Oldham/Cuban bands but it came in a lovely cigar box with a cigar (Cuban I guess), some Spainish Moss - smells good, also title of Smog song and an amusing booklet.

Once again I am not fit to actually review music, I just list it and say whether it is 'lovely and nice' or not.