Well, Summer's back apparently. Looking out of the window today, there is a beautiful blue sky, it's warm and it's as if that weather we were holding out on for the last couple of months is back. For a couple of days at least. Aaanyway, been a bit of a hectic couple of months since the last one as getting ready for our impending parenthood is the number one priority. We seem to be ready - we've got all the kit, the nursery is decorated, birth plan is completed and we've finished our ante natal classes, so all we need now is a Little Person in our lives to share it and we'll be laughing. No movement at the moment though, so it's down to good old patience. So, PJ Harvey won the Mercury prize then. I was a bit disappointed with the nominations - same story every year really - as I was expecting the see Skying by The Horrors and/or One Thousand Pictures by Pete & The Pirates which are easily the two albums by British artists that were eligible I like best. Ho hum, there's no accounting for taste, is there? If Scroobius Pip's Distraction Pieces isn't in the list next year, then I know for definite that something's wrong somewhere. It's a great album, backed up by a phenomenal live show that I got to witness at a tiny gig last month. It's also the first album since the Pete & The Pirates one that I had genuine pre release flutters, just like the old days, while counting down the days to release. When it dropped on the proverbial (mouse) mat and I got to hear it, I was wowed good & proper. Definitely my album of the year so far. And while a lot of the world has recently commiserated each other over the split of R. E. M., I'm a little bit heartbroken at the demise - for the second time, I may add - of The Middle East. Some of you might remember their track 'Blood' from a previous episode and in memory or their passing, I've slipped one of their more recent tracks into this one. Shame really, but while one Australian band leaves, another enters. Watch out for Nantes. I predict big things. So, what else have I got for you to listen to this time? This episode's tracklist is as follows # ARTIST / TITLE Scroobius Pip ft POS & Sage Francis / Let 'em come The Fair Ohs / Baldessari Russian Red / The Sun The Trees Mister Heavenly / Bronx Sniper Library Voices / Generation Handclap Falcon / Say Goodbye Hooded Fang / Tosta Mista Priory / Wait Ghostpoet / Lines Waines / Time Machine Hugo / 99 Problems The Middle East / Land Of The Bloody Unknown Admiral Fallow / Squealing Pigs Nantes / Fly Eleanor Friedberger / My Mistakes BOAT / Forever In Armitron My Goodness / Blackout Baby You can either subscribe to the podcast using the links at the top of the page, through the iTunes podcast directory or download it direct from here. (Right Click, Save As) As is usual, if there is anything on this podcast you like, please remember to support the artist(s) by buying a track or two or even go and see them live. If you are an artist that has a track on this podcast that you would like removed, please get in touch with me and it shall be done without prejudice. Until the next time.... Thanks for listening. It's good to listen. Rob xxx