Stories:

A hole in the heart
"How is my life better knowing that he existed in this world and now he is gone forever?" She would ask herself, all the while, looking and hoping, and preying that she maybe it had hadn't really happened and maybe she would bump into him again someday.

Third Time Lucky
"I think I had a dream about you the other night. We were walking through a wood by a stream. Barely even looking at each other. You were telling me about an idea you had for a song about a guy who falls in love with twins..."

The day the lights changed
"If I had the choice between never seeing you again, or marrying you, I'd marry you in an instant."

There are worse things than being alone
"There are worse things than being alone" I thought as a ran through the cold dark street dodging the drunk the drugged and the dangerous.

Fading away
And from the day before, and the day before... She felt like a bad photocopy of herself from two years ago - crackled and blurred around the edges.

Preston Station
And I found myself awash with tiredness swimming through a sea of angry, crazy cold, unhappy people. My teeth were chattering my hands were blue and air was coming out of my face in soft smoky clouds.

Elsa
As she slept she dreamt and as she dreamt she remembered. She remembered the elusive dream that had broken her heart.

A soggy, muddy, spaghetti adventure
As we headed to the familiar stream near our house we pretended that we were trekking into the wilds of a tropical rainforest. Lost in our fantasy, and undeterred my the fact we could see the white lion pub if we turned to the right

One star, one girl, one night
Chances are that if you have ever stood under an umbrella of stars breathing in clean dark night you will have glanced upon Talitha for a moment or maybe two, but I doubt you even gave it a second thought.

Never Judge a Book By Its Cover
Edward works at a small firm of accountants in the City. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm he sits bolt upright at his desk which is bare of clutter and focuses his eyes on his work. He rarely listens to the office gossip let alone shares any.

The Climb
Emily Harris was not the kind of girl who complained, she was not even the kind of girl who normally got angry about things, but today she was fuming.

Crosswords
He could still remember the day that their first computer had arrived in the office. It was 1989 and for a magical 10 minutes he had truly believed that his life was about to get easier.

Seven Minutes from
Her eyes burnt into the back of his neck with an exhilarating intensity. The blast of air as he opened the door struck him right between the eyes. He blinked turned left and started to walk.

The End
Hmm ok. Well in that case are you sure Felicity just went straight home?

Tiny Airborne Enemies
I awoke 20 minutes before my alarm clock was due to go off with a sneeze, and instantly wished that I hadn't; woken up, that is. The sneeze was a sort of ok as sneezes go.

Where am I?
I don't understand. I don't understand all the wars, the killings, all the cruelty or the pain and suffering. I don't understand how I could read about things that I didn't even know about, or invent places that don't even exist.

A long cup of coffee
I looked at him hoping he would help me out but he remained silent. We brought our coffee into the living room where sunlight streamed through the window making the room look tidier than normal somehow and sat down.

This Place Is Famous
I looked out of the window at the shabby grey street and wondered whether film stars really came here. I didn't think I would if I was a film star.

Why are love stories only about falling in love?
I said to her 'ahhh come on! Ok you want mystery! but you can’t spend you life with reactionary bastards! When some when opens their heart to you that's a great thing you know?'

Still searching
I thought about everything that you had said to me. I thought about how I'd watched you when you weren't looking and I thought about your smile and your laugh. And my throat tightened and my stomach turned over and I didn't know whether to be happy becaus

Life Is Always
I try to imagine all the people the stars can see at that very moment, and I start to think about all the other worlds that they may be visible from. And I start wonder about life. I start to wonder about my life.

Niggles
It is one of those argumentative days today. One of those heavy, humid grey days. The kind of day which turns your shoulders to lead and the whole world niggles at each other.

And through the darkness I thought of you
It was too dark to call you. To call anybody so I lay in bed thinking and listening. Listening to the hollow empty darkness, restless and alone. I lay within a cocoon. I thought of you.

The Stolen Day
Or maybe they weren't quite turning yellow yet. Maybe we just imagined it because autumn was your favourite time of year and you had told me you wanted to share it with me.

A Real Diamond...
Picture this: an isolated road in the middle of the Yorkshire countryside, a seagull circling the dark purple sky, glowing with life in an almost deserted part of the country. I say almost because stood by the side if the road are three hitchhikers.

Squashed Sandwichs & Warm Beer
So, I'm sitting on a train packed full of people "rallying round". Snow sits on the ground and the train being the sensitive type is feeling unwell and does not wish to move just now.

Awkward customers
Ten days later and the complaint from MR X came into head office. "Why the hell did a journey from Birmingham to Southend which should take me just over 3 hours take me 8? And why was I sent via Manchester?"

Walking In The Silence
That is beside the point. I am telling you about falling in love. I fell in love with a tall man with dark green eyes which smiled when he talked. His nose was very straight. (You notice these things when you fall in love.)

The White Car
The car was parked directly opposite ours. It didn't seem like an accident anymore. We walked all around looking for clues, but there were none so we decided to sit and wait until the owners returned.

The case of the missing smile
The girl had studied this couple on more than one occasion. She had spotted them last week in the local supermarket buying a loaf of bread, some rich tea biscuits and 3 bananas.

Secrets
The hardest thing of all is not being able to tell you. That is the hardest thing of all. Well that and the pain and the regret and the endless sleepless nights.

And the cars drove too fast...
Things did not happen like this on the 4th of November 2004. Instead at the very moment that Mrs Gibson passed Mr Richardson, and Stephanie stood waiting to cross the road, and Simon remerged from the newsagents, things changed with a bang.

The Giants
Tom felt like a giant. Yesterday he had learnt how to tie his own shoes, and today he had stopped a whole row of cars with a touch of a button. The green man shone brightly and he strode slowly across the road, swinging his school bag to and fro.

Everyone has a secret
Valerie leaned forward and tapped Martin on the shoulder. "Excuse me gentlemen, you may not have noticed but there are children present on this bus. You may like to watch your language." The bus fell silent. People leaned forward in their seats.

The Plan
You were going to do the talking, because I can't talk without stuttering when I'm nervous, and because you are such a charmer. I was going to do…well I was going to do the rest.

The Start of the Year
You'll forgive our surprise. Darren wears jeans to christenings, seems to believe that football shirts convey a sense of style and has been wearing the same shapeless faded grey jacket over the top of everything he has worn for the last decade. Century. M

Interviews:

A theoretical band, built over a light architecture of dreams...
"My Dear Killer"is theoretical no more. The band which started as a one-man-band now recieves contribution from a few people.

Stuart David - The Man Of Many Stories
for some reason my head was on the floor in the tiny space between the bottom shelf and the carpet. I am not sure why. It was pretty filthy in there I think.

Spreading the love & wrestling with national power (an interview)
I think everbody should own it 'Revolver' because it would show that being popular doesn't necessarily mean being gormless and fake, being experimental doesn't necessarily mean being po-faced and ugly, and being "serious" and insightful can also be fun.

Hope & love & confidence & an interview with Ballboy
If it wasn't for the songs I don't know how I would function sometimes. The ability to say things I want to say in a way that I can't in everyday life means the world to me.

Ghosts, Love and Gentleman rock: An interview with the German Exchange
Inspiration, so fleeting yet all consuming. I live for it. It strips you of your inhibitions in a natural (sober) fashion and makes you value the things in life that are worth caring about.

Gordon McIntyre: The new Crazy Frog? (interview)
Most musicals are about extraordinary people and/or extraordinary times. We wanted to have one where people step out of the ordinary pattern of their lives by the tiniest amount, but it is enough to change their lives for ever.

A reason to be cheerful on a grey sunday night-Interview with Dave Gorman
The man is insane... he is also one of my all time heroes and I was over the moon when he agreed to do this interview.

Spreading the love & wrestling with national power-an interview with M J Hibbet (PART 2)
The world is a wonderful place full of fantastic things, and as soon as you learn to quieten your Inner Teenager and ACCEPT the beauty that's all around you (man), then life becomes much happier and much more rewarding

Breakfast with Jet Johnson (the interview)
We had brought a Ukulele, and one evening when we were sitting on the balcony looking at the sea I thought of this song about how I hope there are cats in heaven when I die.. (not that I believe in heaven.. but you know..)

Music:

Memories Filled With Music
Boxes stood un-emptied and things had yet to find a rightful place from which to be disturbed. I sat on a thick orange carpet in the new front room barely daring to move.

Saturday night, Sunday not Mourning
"arghh! Do we have to listen to that depressing rubbish again? Turn itoff and put something more lively on!"... perhaps dragging her along to two nights of indie music at theChickfactor Ball was going to be the last straw.

Ballboy: A Game Of Two Halves
A sense of good humour pervades as a lone voice and guitar reverberates around the dark walls of the garage. At least one member of the audience finds it hard to believe that such clear voice can exist outside of their imagination.

Stalking Scottish Popsters (on a Sunday)
As I started playing I remembered why they were one of my favourite bands. Their songs and lyrics cut clean lines air and the words they chose seem to fit together like perfect pieces in a jigsaw.

Breakfast with Jet Johnson
Music is amazing. It reminds you of things that have happened and even some that have not. You could imagine for a while that you were somewhere else, that you were someone else. "Tula" has the strength to do just that.

The day we caught the train... (not really a ballboy review)
The audience stood in the semi darkness mesmerised, pressing forwards, clinging to the softly poweful words ringing around them.

Politics:

Not In My Name!
On a sunny a day at the end of September protestors young and old, from a wide range of ethnic groups marched peacefully blocking the busiest roads in central London.

Make Poverty History, Edinburgh, 2nd July
Their messages were written in brightly coloured felt tips. They were forthright and to the point and written with a simple naivety and wisdom that only a child can have. Most of all they were written by people who were probably sick to death of being tol

Travel:

My Goodness, Poor Grainne...
Duncan McFarlane strode into Glasgow Airport, beaming with pride. He would show them! Everyone had thought he'd miss his plane, but here he was 11.30am on the dot, in the right airport, over two hours before his plane was due to take off, ready for anythi

Come To Norway. It will be fun!
Breathless we reached the top of the hill and found our hostel. It had rained that day and everywhere smelt fresh and new. A mist hung over one mountain and the sky was turning apricot. The horizon was punctuated by brightly coloured houses and I was imme

Come to Norway. It will be fun! (part 2)
The woman behind the checkout explained to us that entry to the museum was to our right where we would find the largest collection of chairs in Norway. Yes you heard me right chairs!

Come to Norway. It will be fun! (part 3)
As the boat pulled out of the harbour I felt my heart swelling. Although signs of human habitation were still visible I don't think I've ever felt quite as free before. We drifted out onto the milky sea, wind whipping our faces. Breathing in the sights of

Other Things:

Dear Father Christmas
I'm very good at wrapping up presents and I could probably help you look after the reindeer. How are they? Are the polar bears well? Have you had any trouble from the goblins this year?

Are Geneticists evil? (and other questions)
Mendel noticed, undoubtedly on a pre-breakfast trip to the garden, that the peas inherited characteristics from their parents in certain numerical ratios.

Reviews:

Airport Girl - Don't Dance Her Down
The eight piece band from Nottingham, have created a full sound, crammed full of all the magic of pop. The EP contains the ideal mix of songs: happy enough to lift your spirits but carefully balanced so it is not sickening sweet leaving you with the impre

Ant - Ant - Footprints in the Snow - Album
Snapshots of heartache, and days spent with the one you love drawn in soft acoustic tunes. You sit listening as songs slide from happiness to heartache and then back again engulfed in a happy melancholy.

Ballboy - Hope & love & confidence & an interview with Ballboy

I took in a breath. I stood still. Stopped washing up, and with hands in the warm soapy water, strained to hear the rest of the CD.

Ballboy - A Europewide Search For Love - CD single
With the scene set the curtains open on those half dead hours when the earth expects some rest from prying watchful eyes of the waking world. The swish, swish, swish of the cymbal mirror the sleepless apathy of the hour.

ballboy - Past lovers cd single
The single finishes with The Angels and the storytelling side of the band really kicks in with a quirky tail accompanied by a lone guitar.

ballboy - the sash my father wore and other stories
the real power behind this comes from the songs about love. Each written with care and sung with conviction, captures every passion, confusion excitement that come from being in love.

Ballboy - A Game OfTwo Halves
Her mind is filled with a images of a house in Dundee, of washing dishes, and the first time she had heard this song and she finds it hard to equate these people on stage with the band she first heard on a portable CD player

Beaumont - Tiara - Cd Lp
It exhibits a warmth slightly out of keeping with moody night time character that surrounds it.

Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastophe Waitress- CD Lp
The new album is different. It is happier, maybe slightly less personal, slightly more abstract than those which broke hearts so long ago.

Clayhill - Live at the Manchester Life Cafe
Then he opened his mouth and out fell that deep gravely Sunhouse voice. The music filled the room and the audience stood transfixed, slowly melting into the gentle music.

Degrassi - The form EP
Feel you mind explode with the force of the crashing guitars interspaced with gentle lulls. But this is just a gentle stroll in the park in comparison to the eponymous third track.

Desc - 4 Songs - Cd Ep
The minimalist feel of both the cover and the title is reflected strongly in the music where lyrics and melodies are repeated almost mantra style giving the feel of a tribal war dance.

Frankie Machine - Re-unmelt my heart
Each note is like a tiny sparkling bubble: beautiful, rainbow coloured but ready to burst at any second. It gently twists and turns.

Giant Haystacks - We are being observed
The word that comes to mind when listening to "we are being observed" by Giant Haystacks is "manic".

Harper Lee - All things can be mended
From start to finish the album is filled with a gentle heartache backed by melancholic melodies. Written in black and white, it will wrap its arms around you and draw you into the slow rhythmic sinking feeling that it creates.

Havana Guns - She always goes on
Each song is filled with infinite opportunity and mystery and caused fresh surges of adrenaline to pulse through my body.

Homescience - Jungling
The almost random string of words conjure up the kind of enchanted world that seems to get lost past adulthood: "Sandals and watching frogs jumping to be apart/ Late nights and fireflies stretching to be apart"

Jet Johnson - Breakfast with Jet Johnson (the interview)
hoping for the future is something everyone should do i think.. hope makes you positive and being positive improves the present ...

Jet Johnson - Breakfast with Jet Johnson
Music is amazing. It reminds you of things that have happened and even some that haven't.

Looper - Stuart David - The Man Of Many Stories
In a different, but equally small ground floor flat I read the first chapter of "Nalda Said" the day before I bought it in the shop.

M J Hibbett - The warriors of Nanpantam
From the is a tale of the perfect love song that never was to Hibbet's Golden Rules of Beer the CD had me smiling.

M.J. Hibbett and The Validators - M.J. Hibbett and the Validators - We Validate - Album
Some CDs are like sunny days, and happy dogs. No matter how you were feeling before they appeared, you can't help but smile the second they burst into your life.

Money Cant Buy Music - Money Can't Buy Music - Live at Nottingham Rescue Rooms
The show started with a song about hangovers, men wearing women's knickers and why you should always look both ways whenever crossing the road.

My Dear Killer - A theoretical band, built over a light architecture of dreams...
In general it is a bit difficult to describe any kind of music, but even more complicated to describe you own, as your opinions can be seriously biased. If I really need to give a definition I would say that it is mainly sinister, oblique and mellow.

Pale sunday - A weekend with Jane
a small piece of sunshine to add to the music collection of any indiepop lover.

Pipas - Bitter Club ep
It is undeniabley one of the best examples of bagel-pop that I’ve ever heard.

Schwervon! - Poseur
To say the music is slightly infectious would be like saying a giraffe is slightly tall, or a zebra is slightly stripy. This is music that makes you feel good. It grabs you, it shakes, it makes you want to dance.

The 55's - Height of Nashville
The new single races helter-skelter from start of the first song to finish of the last. Bass line explodes and you can almost feel the sweat dripping from the band as they pour all their energy into "rocking out".

The 55s - Before The Judge Turned Us To Shadow
The hyperactive Ep is filled with guitar driven riffs and off key harmonies which shriek riotously.

The German Exchange - Review of Onward (Demo Cd)
The German Exchange, however, are nothing to do with Michael Jackson, nor are they bunch of school children as my dad thought when I told him about them

The German Exchange - Ghosts, Love and Gentleman rock: An interview with the German Exchange
They have been Compared to the libertines/smiths by some people whilst other people have called them "Quirky guitar pop from some real cockney miscreants”.

The Guild League - Inner North
A single one of these things would have been enough, but when I stop and think about it was the words. Words that feel so perfect I knew I could roll around the mouth for days and not get bored.

The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners
You can imagine driving down a dark and deserted room road in the middle of a rain swept night or sitting out in the garden on a warm summers day. Put simply, it is music for always.

The Pines - True love waits vol. 2
Although the subject of the matter is poignant, the clever wording of the lyrics contains a dry humour, which is sure to have you smiling.

The Starlets - Further into the night forever- CD Lp
The songs dance and sway, creating a softer less formidable world. Majestic orchestral arrangements back electric guitars.

Thee Moths - Sand in our pockets
Sand in our pockets is proof that life doesn't need to be complicated and hi-tech. In fact it is proof that it is better when it is not.

Various Artists - Pow! to the people - Double Cd
A nice of collection of songs for anyone wishing to nostalgically remember the days of track and field, or for that matter, for anyone who just likes good pop music.

Various Artists - Matinee Autumn Assortment
The CD features an exclusive Slipslide song which tells the tail of a romance that dies for the sake of a career. Considering the subject matter the tune surprisingly positive.

Various Artists - Romantic and square is hip and aware (A Smiths tribute)
The album is not full of pale imitations, but who needs that anyway?
Instead expect to find old songs being told from a new angle with a strength of feeling that the artists involved in this project must be given credit for.

VVAA Flair Of Spain - Don Quijote - Cd Lp
About what happened when a collection of Spanish musicians decided to honour the ingenious hidalgo Don Quijote.