I've just been contacted by that nice Mr E and there are 4 tracks available for free. Recorded live at Manchester Bridgewater Hall in 2005 - I was there! Great gig and a real treat with the string section.

Went there again this year to see Eels in a stripped down version and equally as good. Had Peter Kay sat a row behind me, too!

Here's the link if you're interested (I think it's only available until 28th Oct):

http://www.eelstheband.com/eels_blinkinglights_deluxe.php

Has anyone visited a branch of Zavvi (formerly Virgin Megastore) lately? If so, are you as disgusted as me with the lack of musical stock? All they seem to sell is T-shirts and books these days.

I went into the Sheffield branch today and came out a few minutes later, muttering under my breath. The stock level is as mediocre as WH Smith or Woolworths!

With Fopp gone and HMV heading the same way, a city the size of Sheffield doesn't really have a decent record shop in the city centre. Thank goodness for the Record Collector at Broomhill (but that's in a suburb).

Have you had similar thoughts? Is the record shop as we knew it dead and buried?

My wife and I have driven down to Austria with the iPod for company. After hitting France at Dunkerque, we set the iPod to play songs alphabetically just to see what it would throw up. Our 750 mile journey took about 13 hours of actual driving time. By the time we'd reached our destination, we'd only got as far as 'Alone Again Or...' by Love!

Has anyone else attempted anything like this? And how far through the alphabet did you get?

A 'classic'encounter on Whistle Test, with some dodgy sheep noises,some anachronistic views on electronics and sampling, plenty of fresh air (and hot air) plus an appearance from David Hepworth at the end! What more could you want?