It's probably got to the point where I should make the customary apology for lack of blogging: sorry about that. I've been busy with a number of things, but it's mainly been researching and writing Infinite Music that's kept me away. Got a few chapters down now and I'm really pleased with it so far. Once it's finished it'll be back to normal here, but in the mean time, I have a few morsels to offer.

Firstly, the picture above. It's by William Daniels, part of the new Saatchi exhibition which I haven't been to see yet. Sort of interesting isn't it. Apparently Daniels made a paper effigy of that portrait of William Blake and painted it in oils. This summer, upright 'Street Pianos' have been left in public places in London and last week I had loads of fun playing one of them in Bunhill Fields, northeast of the City, where Blake's grave is. After this pic and my A flat ninth chords, he's probably having even more of a spin in it this year than usual.

Secondly, Juke music from Chicago is making waves in London. I had a go at the footwork dance that goes with it and I fell over. But these guys don't, they really, really don't:


Thirdly, if you haven't read the first two parts of Blackdown's 'Greatest Rhythms of Dubstep' series yet (first one: Exemen, 'Far East', second one: Mala's incredible 'Learn'), then do. Great insight, and an important reminder that great dubstep can never be reduced to bass.

Finally, as much as it pains me not to have the time to write thousands of words on these, here are some of the highlights of my listening over the last few months (some of them aren't so new, many of them aren't very surprising, but they're all worth a good look):

Actress: Splazsh
American Men: Cool World
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today
Bugskull: Communication
Charles Trees: The Dream EP
Downliners Sekt: Hello Lonely Hold the Nation EP
Dubbel Dutch: Throwback EP
Flying Lotus: Cosmogramma
Girl Unit: I.R.L. EP
Jneiro Jarel (Dr. Who Dat?): Beyond 2morrow
Lil Silva: Night Skanker EP
Lone: Ecstacy and Friends
Lukid: Onandon
Matrix Metals: Flamingo Breeze
Mount Kimbie: Crooks and Lovers and the two remix EPs on Hot Flush
Mowgli: 93
Onra: Long Distance
Oscar McClure: Compost EP
Oval: Oh EP (and) O
Ramadanman: Glut / Tempest
Rangers: Suburban Tours
'Shangaan Electro: New Wave Dance Music from South Africa'
Shlohmo: Shlomoshun Deluxe (and) Camping EP
Wiley: Avalanche Music
Woebot: Moanad