A strange experience this morning. As I write, I’m listening to what seems to be a perfect recording of the Mountains show I saw last night at Club Uncut. As with a previous tour, which resulted in the superb “Etching” album, Brendon Anderegg and Koen Holtkamp rehearsed a new piece for the tour, recorded an early take on it, then produced CD-Rs to sell after each show.

The pair have recorded a new single, together!

I heard the other day that a brand new Animal Collective single was purportedly on its way, which samples Phil Lesh’s mighty “Unbroken Chain” one of my favourite Dead songs. First, though, there’s a reissue of 2003’s ghostly “Campfire Songs”; an album which, I guess, may come as something of a shock to people who’ve only been exposed to Animal Collective’s last couple of albums.

New Yorkers to promote new album release 'Contra'

The Uncut Music Award nominees to tour

Back from a week away, then, to discover that a few records have managed to limp through – at least digitally – in the face of the postal strike. Prominent here I guess are that rarity, something promised by Neil Young that actually turns up, and Them Crooked Vultures, with Josh Homme playing Alpha Male with John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl.

'(I Want To) Come Home' features on new De Niro-starring film soundtrack

Live review of Uncut Music Award shortlist contenders

The next Archives installment out this year

Band announce first outdoor stadium gigs since Milton Keynes in '05