Nowadays it's totally acceptable to fall in love with an inanimate object (sure it is!!) and today Domino Publishing went on a hot date with the BAFTA award winning Cybraphon. Chaperoned by masterminds the Professor (Simon Kirby on the right) and Tommy Perman from Found* (middle) -  the Cybraphon (left) left me breathless with awe and wonder. What am I whittering on about (who knows - that's what love does to a lady!)? Per the Cybraphon website:  'Inspired by early 19th century mechanical bands such as the Nickelodeon, Cybraphon is an interactive version of a mechanical band in a box. Consisting of a series of robotic instruments housed in a large display case, Cybraphon behaves like a real band. Image conscious and emotional, the band’s performance is affected by online community opinion as it searches the web for reviews and comments about itself 24 hours a day.'

Basically - it's a contraption made of an old cabinet, robot parts and second hand instruments (such as a drum made from a cigar box) that plays music composed by Found.  'Whatever!' you may shout - 'yeh we've seen that sort of stuff at Shunt/BAC/Cube' (delete/add cool venue as applicable) - BUT... it plays the music in response to its online popularity thanks to a nifty online hook up. If no one tweets it or talks about it on facebook it gets sad and plays a sad melody. The Cybraphon will be tinkling away with pleasure when it notices we've posted this blog entry about it. 

So for anyone conscious of the effect of social networking on us humans - this is for you. Hatefully emotional, it's the whisky cabinet that gets more emotional than the drinker. Having found its own following Worldwide it's already overshadowed its makers with a significant online following of admirers. Perhaps the whisky fumes went to our heads but it seems to reflect much about the shift in the music business since PRS first launched as a result of in-home music boxes to the social networking paranoia of recent times. 

Found are working on new material and their work with Cybraphon is part of other interesting endeavours that challenge the way people interact with sound.

WATCH IT on the BBC Culture Show.

We have been delighted at the number of new films being made within the fashion industry by creative directors brave enough to use some of the most cutting edge music. Not only is it about people wearing nice clothes but the films are becoming hugely visually pleasing like Metamorphosis by The North Circular.

I've finally got round to grabbing the embed code for this film that I want to share with you. It was a product of the fantastic, new, hugely relevant course being offered by the London College of Fashion - MA Fashion Media Production, which this month enjoyed its first class graduation with all students passing including three with distinction. Whilst it may seem unfair to single out one student from an entire year - recent MA_12 graduate Saskia Reis had her music request from Domino rejected last year but we kept in touch. And we're so happy she's still talking to us as we are now able to look upon her film output like a proud parent. This film, entirely created by her, is one of several in her pioneering street-style blog THE LOVESTREET that proves that fashion - on the street anyways - can still have soul. 

We look forward to the output of MA_13 and congratulations to LCF for taking the brave step in creating this course and good luck to all the students participating. If you want to find out more about Saskia, LCF or have a chat about this - email me. 

'Shotgun', backed with 'Trigger The Alarm' out 26th March 2012 (Domino Records). The second single from Eugene McGuinness’ forthcoming much anticipated LP, due in June. The accompanying video was directed by the Grammy-nominated, Sundance-shortlisted Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern (thirtytwo).

Watch LION

The Magnetic Fields’ new single ‘Andrew In Drag’ will be released by Domino on 27th February 2012.  The video, shot on the new RED Epix-XCamera, was created by New York-based Valins & Co. for the catchy first single from new album ‘Love At The Bottom Of The Sea’ (out 5th March 2012 in Domino Records). The film which YouTube have gone to the trouble of putting an age limit on is available to view HERE.

'This piece was allabout maintaining a constant balance and ambiguity'.

'Engelhardt’s Arizona' from the Trailer Trash Tracys album Ester directed by Rebecca Salvadori.

On Monday (06.02.2012) Renault aired their new UK TVC featuring Trailer Trash Tracys 'You Wish You Were Red' (Domino Publishing/Domino Records) from their Twin Peaks style album Ester.

Dan's been busy compiling killer playlists of our music on Spotify over the past while and you can catch up here:

February 2012 = Songs of the Month: (Domino Records & Publishing): February 2012

January 2012 = sorry, Dan was on a Spotify  detox session this month

December 2011 =Songs of the Month: (Domino Records & Publishing): December 2011

November 2011 = Songs of the Month (Domino Records & Publishing): November 2011 

October 2011 = Songs of the Month: (Domino Records & Publishing): October 2011

September 2011= Songs of the Month: (Domino Records & Publishing): September 2011

August 2011= Songs of the Month: (Domino Records & Publishing Co): August 2011

July 2011 = Songs of the Month: (Domino Records & Publishing Co): July 2011

June 2011 = Songs of the Month (Domino Records & Publishing Co): June 2011

May 2011 = Songs of the Month (Domino Records & Publishing Co): May 2011

April 2011 = Songs of the Month (Domino Records & Publishing Co): April 2011

Domino Remixes Sampler = Domino Remixes Sampler

Sharwoods today (03.02.2012) unveiled their new TVC featuring Bill Wells & Maher Shalal Hash Baz 'Banned Announcement' (Domino Publishing/Domino Records) from their extraordinary album Gok.