Some people have written to tell me that they like this front page so it's staying for a while. I'm busy trying to get the live reviews up to date at the moment. Hirameka Hi-Fi has been uploaded and PJ Harvey, Les Savy Fav, PSOI, Hefner, Clone Quartet will be up by Monday. I have a lot of CDs to wade through as well, so don't hold your breath!
I've been all over the place this week. I was in Belfast on 23rd and 24th, and went to Sketchy to see Clone Quartet and Drebin. I was expecting great things and was sorely disappointed. The only other gig I went to this week was Hefner at the unfeasibly large Shepherds Bush Empire. Good as usual, though a bit contrary of them to play hardly anything from their new analogue-snyth dominated album 'Dead Media'. Afraid of a backlash? I arrived a bit late so missed all of the Lucksmiths (great apparently) and I only saw a couple tunes from Appliance, who seemed a bit dull. Anyway, the Lucksmiths are playing again tonight at the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town so I might go along. Oh yeah, and Suicide are playing tomorrow, details below.

On the way back from Belfast I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which really isn't my usual thing, but I was so annoyed by the accusations of occultism in the Belfast Telegraph by various Free Presbyterians and overtly religious managers of toyshops that I thought I would see what the fuss was about. I wonder how many of them have actually read it?

Right, I'm making this the index page for a few days because things have got a bit out of date on the main site, and the new updated index is looking a bit screwy to say the least. What you should know is that I have uploaded a new interview with Rocket From the Crypt. Iain spoke to Paul (aka sax player Apollo 9) on the phone and I reckon it's turned out rather well. New reviews of PJ Harvey, Les Savy Fav, Preston School of Industry and Hirameka Hi-Fi will be ready by the end of the week, as will the newly updated front page and A-Z index. Sorry!

Don't forget that our discussion site is here.

Today I went to the playback of the Aphex Twin's new 100 minute album Drukqs in the Rough Trade Shop in Covent Garden. Stayed for around half an hour as the shop was a bit empty to just hang around in. They had covered the entire shop with the artwork though, which was apparently the first time that had been done since 'Never Mind the Bollocks' came out in 1977! As for the music, I would say that a lot of it sounds like typical Aphex stuff, much like 'Come to Daddy' or 'Richard D James'. I really liked the minimal piano pieces, sort of a 'music concrete' influence and something a bit different from his previous releases. Didn't hear anything that touched 'Windowlicker' though.
I had already bought 4 CDs today (Kaito, Simian, Set Fire to Flames and Piano Magic) so didn't shell out for Drukqs just yet.

I'm not a great one for spotting celebrities around London, but on the way home through Soho I spotted none other than satirical genius Chris Morris (Brass Eye, Blue Jam etc) in Marks and Spencers! I was too starstruck to queue behind him and see what he was buying though.

Should list some gigs while I'm in the mood...
23rd Oct To Rococo Rot + Manitoba (Leaf) Cargo, 83 rivington St, Shoreditch, £8
24th Oct The Cranes London the Garage
25th Oct Khan + Kid Congo Powers Kosmische at 93 Feet East, Brick Lane E1 - £5 before 10pm, £7 after. (8pm-2am)
26th Oct Hefner + Appliance + Beulah - Shepherds Bush Empire
28th Oct Suicide + Fat Truckers Sonic Mook Expt Rocks at the ICA, 7pm- 12am £10

I'll be in Belfast for a couple of days in the middle of this week, and I may get to go to Sketchy at Auntie Annies 24th Oct, as The Clone Quartet and Drebin are playing. Back in England, Hefner have a few dates next week - 24th Brighton Concorde 2, 25th Oxford Zodiac, 26th London Shepherds Bush Empire. Appliance support on all three, and Beulah open the show in London only.

Audio Galaxy would seem to have gone the same way as Napster. The authorities (RIAA) forced them to block their files on Wednesday night, unless an artist previously granted permission to use their mp3s. What do you use instead? Take it to our message board.