OK, I’ll be honest. It wasn’t all doom and gloom when I hooked up with the Dickos brothers, Paul and Alex, (Emily D's siblings) one night in Camden. While Emily D was stuck in a hotel in Indianapolis, sorting out something for Jessica Simpson’s uncle (??), she still managed to keep tabs on our whereabouts by texting throughout the night. Shame on you, lassie! You should have come along too.  We only got harrassed by drug pushers about half a dozen times and poor Alex was waiting ages to be served at the bar because he was too polite to push forward and bark his orders at the barman. Needed a wee nudge, that one… By the way, don't we look happy in the picture?

Essentially I’m supposed to encourage you to visit this site often enough for entertaining reviews, features and interviews by enticing you with what we’ve done and what we’ve got coming up but truthfully, I seem to have steered away from that concept and been wallowing in my own self-pity – not that it’s made any difference, you insensitive bunch! Any way, in case you haven’t noticed before, there is a short and painless way to tell us what you think of this site.  It’s called a feedback form and can be located right here. Most give the usual suggestions, likes and dislikes and so on, so forth. However, last week, one popped into my in-box which caught my attention. I thought I’d share with you their valuable opinion:

What would you like to read about on uk-fusion?

Up-to-date music reviews from an enthusiastic editor.
Is there anything you dislike about uk-fusion?

The editor just can't be bothered.
Other comments:

Shouldn't the editor actually review some albums or maybe go to some gigs?

Well! That’s told me but why should it only be me? Surely it matters that there are other individuals who review things and sometimes before their release dates. You won’t get that on the NME, let me tell you. It’s quite reassuring the person who offered their humble opinion would like to be added to our mailing list regardless – whenever we get round to sorting one out. Yes, it’s absolutely true, I’ve not been quite ‘there’ with the site, I think it’s because I’m just so bloody bored.

The last gig I went to was Electric Six in December 2004, and since then, I’ve not been inclined to attend another. I don’t think people realise how much pressure I’m under here – accept an invite at the 11^th hour (and usually just ONE ticket, which makes me feel really wanted), to (try to) write a glowing review of an artist, and if they are awful, to be honest and face the silent treatment from grumpy PRs who get the hump over the smallest issues. Actually I’ve forgotten what it feels like to go to a gig with a bunch of mates, and not worry about writing it up the same night. I miss that! Someone, please rescue me! 

Ahem. So back to the point. I am grateful for that knock on the head, and I am going to make a big effort to change things, but only on the conditions I’m permitted to be brutally honest and in control, considering I don’t get paid for this job. Fair do’s? Good!  So now you’ll be pleased to know we’ve got a few juicy things for you to read including two interviews. Hell, yeah! One is with solo male artist type James Blunt courtesy of Lauren Glucksman, and the second is with Nitin Sawhney by Matthew.

Matthew, who lives in Las Palmas, normally interviews football players or anyone related to Chelsea and confesses this was his only second music interview ever (the first being Mr C formerly of The Shamen – Mr C?! Did he have any salmon?? Nice one!) Well then, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Matthew will be taking the hot seat next week. It’s time he introduced himself to the readers of uk-fusion. Be nice to him!