Um... now March has gone somewhere similar

And I'm still waiting to be knocked out by some new music in 2014.

Beck's Morning Phase is decent enough, with a lovely, lush sound. But it's one-paced and the songs blend into one another without any of them grabbing me suffciently firmly by the malleus, incus or, indeed, stapes...

Del Barber's Prairieography is rather more hit and miss: some strong songs and good playing mixed in with some more clichéd 'make a country noise now' moments.

My hopes have currently shifted to The Hold Steady's Teeth Dreams, which is gathering encouraging reviews and should be in my hot hands shortly.

Meanwhile, the year's best vinyl moment has been picking up a copy of Black Sabbath's first album, complete with a Vertigo swirl label, at last week's Brighton record fair. (An Italian pressing and not too extravagant...) They were a remarkable band in those days, pretty much untrammelled by any commercial expectations. I love Paranoid too, but that was the start of a rather more conventional writing style and sonic palette.

At least I have now been to a gig this year: a really enjoyable celebration of the music of Nick Pynn at the Dome last Sunday, featuring the great man himself playing with a host of musical and comedic chums. A personal highpoint was Mike Heron leading the assembled crowd through the opening section of 'A Very Cellular Song'. Gorgeous.