As we head to the end of the year, Music Weekly is feeling pensive. "What a great year it has been for music", goes our thoughts, "but isn't it sad it's nearly over".
Luckily, we had one half of super DJ/production/recording duo Simian Mobile Disco on hand to help us muddle through our melancholy. We asked Mr Ford to choose between his various disciplines and name his favourite. We dug into his love for Japan, festivals and a man called Raymond Scott. Afterwards, we all felt a little better.
Meanwhile, Rosie Swash caught up with Farris Rotter, frontman of the gothic five-piece the Horrors. Rotter came over all coy when discussing the secret identity of the producer of the band's second album, due out in spring 2008, but he was prepared to talk about his love of 60s girl-groups and new British soul singer Duffy.
Speaking of which... 22-year-old Duffy features prominently in our dongle (single + download= dongle) reviews. A consensus could not be reached on her debut single Rockferry, nor on new track Sexual Sportswear by French electronic artist Sebastien Tellier. But James Ford was able to give us some background info on our third dongle Teddy Picker by Arctic Monkeys, which split opinion but made for a natty discussion all the same.
