So Lee Mavers is hanging around with Pete Doherty, then:

The La's were absolutely fantastic...and that album is similarly *absolutely fantastic*; proof positive that Lee Mavers is absolutely one of our greatest songwriters. He hates it, of course, *that* album, believing its production not up to the quality of the songs. I dare say that in some instances he has a point, but for me, it's about the quality of the songs... not the quality of the production. And besides, great music, like Mavers', will survive almost any treatment.

As a fan, I am on the one hand encouraged by this latest foray into the limelight. I held high hopes for the 2005 resurfacing, but it wasn't to be; if this showing means he's recording new material, and is maybe getting back in the game, then I'll be delighted. On the other, though, if all he's going to do is waste his time with *that* hopeless twat, reducing himself to nothing more than a cultural rock 'n' roll signifier ... well the notion is so depressing that I can't even bring myself to contemplate it.

(I suspect I know where this is going, by the way, but would welcome opinions...)