Without the internet and having to traipse around Beijing in order to make our stay in China as easy as possible, I have been plugged almost permanently into my shiny and lovely iPod Touch (it's amazing, this contraption, the touch screen is phenomenal and I love it!). I was walking around a market street, looking at some guitars during a moment off from chores when one of the proprietors came up to me and thrust a guitar into my hands. I played it for a bit (it was very nice indeed, although probably a knock off - Gibson CS336, Cherry Red, lovely) and he winced at my missed notes and then took it off me. He spoke not a word of English but, in a very surreal 20 minutes of my life, we both spoke our native language to each other and nodded and smiled as though we both knew what the other was saying. Then I decided to show off by introducing him to my darling iPod Touch. He played with it for a bit and I gave him the headphones, which he plugged in and I played him "Rock 'n' Roll" by Led Zeppelin. Immediately and in what sounded like perfect English, he said "Ah, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin" and made a Bill 'n' Ted -esque guitar playing motion! As Albus Dumbledore once said "Ah music, a magic beyond all we do here". Too true.

Anyway, I've been listening to lots of music and I thought I'd share those artists and albums that have been garnering regular attention from my amazing music playing machine:

Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops. Mainly the first three songs ("Alone, Jealous and Stoned", "All At Once (It's Not Important)" and "Lightning Blue Eyes") but the album has played through a few times unchecked.

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future. In it's entirety, there is not a bad song on this album, a deserved winner of the Mercury Music Prize.

Blind Melon - No Rain. Great song, really great song, I'm actually listening to it as I write this.

Billy Talent - Billy Talent II. A large slice of overdriven Americana, done in Canadian style. ROCK!

Sevenball - The Wild Turkey Sessions. We went to a gig to see these boys just before we left for China and they were amazing. A bit like Pearl Jam crossed with Led Zeppelin (that was the description given to me and it's pretty spot on!). Rumours of their imminent demise have reached my ears, which is very sad indeed.

The Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang, Derdang. Really dirty blues, saw them earlier in the year and they were unbelievable. Best somewhat unknown band in Britain at the moment. I imagine.

We've got some credit at the iTunes store. Anyone got any good recommendations?