Oh well - never mind. Catch you some other time, perhaps?

Will you get the chance to visit your rellies whilst in the Motherland?

Yeah. Although I doubt my dad will wanna come with me to see Jay Z (even given his new status as DJ on the local black music radio station).

I know he's not Ladytron, but you may be surprised by Jay Z. He's one of the few hiphoppers who understands the importance of live performance.

I've seen him before, and last time he sucked dogshit through an old tramp's sock.

I hear he's improved though, so we'll see...

Saw them (again) last night, at The Astoria.

They were pretty damn good. Much better than the first time they (abortively) played the gig, a few weeks back.

I should have loved them, but I find it hard to get enthused about a band that is so static on stage. They just look really awkward - like it's their first ever gig. Of course, some bands make studied standing still a feature - even an art form - but Ladytron just look ill-at-ease, somehow. I prefer artists/bands to at least have a bit of stage presence whether it is, say, Kraftwerk's aforementioned studied immobility or one of the countless bands who run all over the stage. It just assists the atmosphere a little, I feel.

I had a quick chat with Gary Levermore - ex-boss/owner of Third Mind records (now working for Nettwerk) while I was there. That's all - just idle fanboy gossip!

Helen and Mira are consistently the best-coiffed, best-dressed women in pop, they looked great in their black dresses (hehe). That slightly awkward stance suits them well, they're both not very effusive and a little bit of reserve goes with their sound.

It's kind of funny how they always stick the guys in the back, and the guest bassist in the back and in the corner.

A rather good photo, which captures the lightshow (and matching eyes) quite well. Unfortunately, they didn't get much more animated than this, though.