What a massive topic music is! I've been writing music since I was about 10 years old ... wow 22 years! I love it, I can't get enough of it. Everything from classical to banging techno and drum and bass.

Music is unique in the arts in that its the only artform to exist purely for and of itself. There is no reason for music other than to have it, all other art forms follow on from some form of purpose and function. Its also the most abstract of the arts and for that I feel its completely unique. It has such power of the emotions that it can be overwhelming at times and get really elevate a persons spirits like no other artform (IMHO).

As both a consumer and creator of music it does worry me how the market is moving at the moment. Its true that pop has been with us for a very long time and its also sad that so much of it appears to be a construct in order to 'move units' these days rather than the industry taking more chances with something more leftfield and 'chancey'. Its true that it is an industry with all that goes with an industry, costs, bottom lines, profit margins and investors. I do think that even though there are probably more genres than ever before its also true that the industry is still trying to maintain its grip over the feeding of the masses and informing them of what they want them to buy.

Its probably true that Michael Jacksons - Thriller will remain the biggest selling record of all time ...

I'm going to pop a list of albums on this page that i'd urge anyone finding this page to look up irrespective of their tastes as they are albums that I believe need to be heard in order to truly know what sort of music you like. Music is something that needs to be found, not handed to a person on a plate ... you might find out that you actually prefer Tibetan Throat Chanting rather than the latest Westlife album or the latest repackaged formula 'supergroup' that is sucking up a large portion of this years EMI marketing budget.

Jammer's recommended listening:

Plaid - Double Figure

Harmonic 33 - Extraordinary People

Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase

Tipper - Surrounded

Pundulum - Hold Your Colour

Plone - For Beginner Piano

Soulsavers - It's Not How Far You Fall, It's How You Land

Smith & Mighty - Bass is Maternal

Shpongle -

Howie B - Turn The Dark Off

Charles Webster - Born on the 24th July