Want to know what I was thinking? How much I was missing ambiance. Big swirling clouds of ambiance, drenching records in squelchy psychedelia. After so long listening to bands recording in sheds and trying to sound like they're playing whilst pissed, I long for prog-rock. I want capes, keyboards, things that go "whoooosh" and overtly earnest vocals.

And I may have found it. "We communicate by semaphore, no language we've got flags", the Secret Machines sing haughtily. Bully for you guys, but if you were expecting swoons of jealousy over 'em I'd think again. Have you seen these new mobiles? You can send videos over them!

I could get my fix from The Mars Volta but I'm lazy and they're just too much like hard work for me. Plus, I can't be arsed learning Latin just so I can read the back of their CD. So the Secret Machines' plan to squeeze a bit of Volta-esque epic soundscaping into a pair of pop trousers is just what I need to satisfy my appetite without expending much effort.